Chelsea have emerged as the favourites to sign Ousmane Dembele this summer with the potential transfer 'taking off' in the last 24 hours.
The Blues have been in talks with the winger who is set to be a free agent this summer as his contract with Barcelona expires. Thomas Tuchel could reunite with the former Borussia Dortmund man now that the ownership saga is finally settled after Todd Boehly took the reins at Stamford Bridge at the start of the week.
It was reported earlier in the week Dembele is on the verge of reaching an agreement with Chelsea, according to Mundo Deportivo. And that has been backed up by talkSPORT who claim they are in pole position to sign the Frenchman with the deal 'taking off' overnight.
Liverpool have also been linked with Dembele after it emerged that Sadio Mane could leave Anfield this summer. Dembele's agent, Moussa Sissoko, has revealed that his client is still weighing up his options as he prepares to leave the Nou Camp after a failed £100million move from Signal Iduna Park.
He said: “Ousmane’s future remains open. We are and have always been very respectful to all clubs and this will continue to be the case while the process is ongoing. When it is the right time to make a decision, Ousmane will consider the best option for his future."
Tuchel admitted that it has been a frustrating time for Chelsea as they haven't been able to go full steam ahead due to uncertainty surrounding the club's ownership.
He said: “You can always end up in a situation where players at the end of the season can have talks with other clubs, have different ideas and maybe get distracted because they sign for other teams. It happens.
“It’s a bit easier if you are also free to act and be more involved in the talks. Now it feels like we are spectators of the development, we don’t like. It’s a passive role and a bit strange. You can feel it.
“We have already discussed now a lot of points (for struggles), if you bring these together maybe it can provide an explanation as to why the edge in our game is missing. Still, I can just repeat myself. It is not the moment to point fingers on the players and to be too harsh and demanding.
“It’s, yes demanding, but not overdo it. We trust ourselves. Everybody in the building and who arrives tomorrow wants to finish on a positive spin. There is still a lot to achieve."
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But now that the saga has been resolved, Chelsea are not prepared to waste any more time as they look to add reinforcements this summer.
The Stamford Bridge club are in desperate need of a centre-half after Antonio Rudiger left as a free agent with Andreas Christensen set to follow suit. Jules Kounde has been a long-standing target for the Blues and it's claimed he isn't the only player in his position they are looking at.
Josko Gvardiol is reportedly on their radar with Tuchel's men set to beat London rivals Tottenham to the signing of the RB Leipzig stopper to play alongside Kounde, according to the Daily Mail.
