With less than two weeks to go until Chelsea kick-off their Premier League season at Goodison Park against Everton, trepidation is the feeling that is lingering around the Blues camp at the moment with Thomas Tuchel amplifying this feeling.
The Blues' 4-0 thumping at the hands of Arsenal in the US was only a pre-season fixture but it certainly burst the bubble of positivity that was created by the purchases of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. So much so that the German didn't hold back in his post-match assessment of what he saw on the pitch where he didn't just urge the board to sign more 'quality players' with four new additions forecasted before the September deadline but he also questioned whether his team would be ready to go back to a place where they were so easily beaten at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
"I can not guarantee," he honestly said when asked whether his team would be ready for the start of the new season. "I saw today a team in Arsenal who are mentally committed to an idea of playing, a level of exhaustion, a level of physical commitment that we could not match. Also, a level of mental commitment that we lacked because we have a lot of players who are thinking about leaving and looking at their options. We have players that have left and I think at the moment that's obvious."
READ MORE: Chelsea targeting four key signings to solve Thomas Tuchel's transfer window frustrations
Whilst all focus is currently on the defensive rebuild amongst Denzel Dumfries progress and Jules Kounde stagnation, there are other areas of the pitch that are in urgent need of attention. With Timo Werner looking more likely to leave at least on loan this summer amid links to Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, a suitable replacement will need to be found.
Could that guy be Armando Broja? Well, football.london understands that the Albanian's camp is seeking assurances of regular first-team football. Something that Tuchel cannot guarantee to the former Southampton loanee currently as he continues to consider his options.
Cristiano Ronaldo and a few others have been linked with a move but so far, the German hasn't given a solid green light to the new owners to sanction a big statement signing. Perhaps Tottenham's Harry Kane can change his thoughts.
This is because as per Sport Bild's Christian Falk, Tuchel is 'interested' in the three-time Golden Boot winner. According to Falk, Spurs' preference if they had to sell would be to ship the 28-year-old, who has been in fine form in pre-season, abroad amid Bayern Munich interest.
Antonio Conte is not a fan of even entertaining the prospect of letting his main man leave for any price this summer as demonstrated by his snappy response back to Julian Nagelsmann who flirted with the idea recently of Kane potentially replacing Robert Lewandowski who has moved to Barcelona.
Conte's response will certainly not surprise Tuchel himself, who based on past comments, knows that the prospect of Kane coming to Chelsea is unlikely despite his clear admiration of the north Londoners' main goalscorer.
"If you find any coach around the world who would not like to have Harry Kane in his team, call me again. I would like to speak with the guy and hear about his ideas of scoring and attacking," Tuchel was quoted saying at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
"Everybody loves Harry Kane but let’s be very, very clear. He is a player for Tottenham. He has a long-term contract and we will not get involved in any press conference with any disrespectful comments about that."
Chelsea fans - Is a Harry Kane-type signing needed if the Blues' attacking issues are to be solved in the 2022/23 campaign? Let us know your thoughts on this matter in the comments section below!
Three winners and four losers from Chelsea pre-season tour amid Thomas Tuchel frustration
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates and rumours from Stamford Bridge
Full Chelsea Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
How Raheem Sterling will help Thomas Tuchel solve Chelsea's attacking issues in the new season
Todd Boehly finds solution to Chelsea's Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Kepa Arrizabalaga issues
