Thomas Tuchel has reportedly identified Matthijs de Ligt as his 'first choice' target ahead of the upcoming transfer window, with the Chelsea boss eager to devise a summer rebuild. The 22-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in January, though a move failed to materialise.
The Blues were 'willing to go crazy' in their efforts to lure the £54m-rated defender from Juventus, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica. But, unbeknown to Tuchel at the time, Antonio Ruidger and Andreas Christensen sought futures away from west London and the duo are now set to leave the club in the coming weeks once their contracts expire.
Chelsea then followed up their interest a month later with the hope of laying the groundwork for a transfer in the summer, but Tuchel's mission to bolster his defence was quickly stopped in its tracks following the UK Government's decision to sanction Roman Abramovich.
