Classy PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe is next on Chelsea’s hitlist after £47.5million Raheem Sterling jetted in to join Thomas Tuchel’s revolution.
Sterling has signed a five-year-deal worth £300,000-a-week with an option for a further season to end his seven years at Manchester City. He will train with his new team-mates on Wednesday and could make his debut in Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Club America in Nevada.
The England winger said: “I’ve obviously achieved a lot in my career so far, but there is still so much more to achieve and I’m really looking forward to doing that in a Chelsea shirt, under Thomas’s management."
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly added: "Raheem Sterling is a serial winner. His signing is an important step in strengthening our squad. We are delighted for Raheem to return to London with Chelsea and we are looking forward to seeing his world-class talent on display at Stamford Bridge."
Kimpembe, 26, has played 28 times for France and is a five-time Ligue 1 winner with PSG. The French champions are understood to be willing to do business at the right price for the pacy centre-back. The deal could yet move even more quickly with PSG having agreed a £55million package with Inter Milan for their Slovakian centre-back Milan Skriniar.
It comes with the west Londoners having agreed a £34million deal plus add-ons to sign 31-year-old defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. The commanding centre-half, a Senegal international team-mate of Blues keeper Eduoard Mendy, will sign a four-year deal and complete a medical in London before flying to join his new teammates in Los Angeles.
He jetted to England on Wednesday night and joins highly-decorated Thiago Silva in giving Chelsea formidable defensive options. Koulibaly also reinforces the club’s backline impressively with important Champions League experience.
Incoming Nathan Ake, a £45million returnee from Manchester City, will give Chelsea the depth they lost when Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left on free transfers for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
