Chelsea's defence will be down to the bare bones with an exodus from their backline at the end of the season set to leave Thomas Tuchel short on experienced players in the club's rearguard.
Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta are all set to leave for pastures new in the summer when their contracts at Stamford Bridge expire while Marcos Alonso has also been strongly tipped to leave.
Tuchel will make defensive reinforcements his priority as soon as the club are able to sign players when their transfer embargo is lifted following the sale of the Premier League by Roman Abramovich to incoming owner Todd Boehly in the near future. Mirror Sport has rounded up the latest Chelsea transfer news and rumours.
Inter and Juve defenders linked
Chelsea are targeting Inter MIlan centre back Milian Skriniar as one of the men they want to strengthen their defence next season. The club’s main target is Sevilla defender Jules Kounde - but Skriniar has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time and a bid is likely. But the Stamford Bridge club will need at least two new central defenders this summer.
According to Italian outlet Gazzetta, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have all reportedly shown interest in the 27-year-old centre-back. Inter though are hoping to keep Skriniar at the club by offering him a new deal. The Slovakian will be into the final year of his contract next season and could leave as a free agent as he enters into his prime years.
Chelsea are also reportedly in the running to sign Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, despite a new contract offer being on the table from the Serie A giants for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has long been linked with a move to the Premier League. De Ligt was highly touted to head to England prior to heading to Juve in a deal worth around £63million in July 2019. Manchester United were initially interested before they eventually moved for Harry Maguire. Not though, it is Chelsea named as a potential suitor, also according to Gazzetta.
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Colwill in contention
Fulham, Bournemouth, and Huddersfield are all set to be disappointed this summer if they are hoping to recruit Chelsea youngster Levi Colwill. According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel intends to bring the highly rated Colwill back to Stamford Bridge this summer to have a good look at him in pre-season. Colwill has had a highly successful loan spell at Huddersfield this season, with the 19-year-old has playing an integral part in guiding the Terriers to the play-off final following their 2-1 aggregate semi-final win over Luton.
Kante still key
Tuchel has insisted that he does not want to see N’Golo Kante leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Kante is in the last year of his Chelsea contract, and talks are expected to begin ona new deal soon, according to Chelsea news. Tuchel said “He is our key, key, key player, but key, key, key players need to be on the pitch,” Tuchel said on Kante. “He plays only 40% of the games, then it is maybe a miracle that we arrive in third place. He is our Mo Salah, he is our Van Dijk, he is our De Bruyne. He is simply that player, he is our Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. He is that guy who makes the difference, and if you only have him for 40%, then it is a huge problem.”
