Thomas Tuchel could have as many as 18 players on his Chelsea transfer wishlist this summer as new owner Todd Boehly gives the green light on a £200million war chest.
The German coach held discussions with Boehly over a need to rebuild the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge recently and came away with a pledge from the US businessman that he’d reive the funds he desired that would allow Chelsea to spend big in the summer window.
The Blues already have their eyes firmly set on signing Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde which would soften the blow of losing Antonio Rudiger and Andrea Christensen on free transfers at the end of the season. Inter’s Denzel Dumfries could also provide defensive cover, with his transfer potentially dependent on whether Romelu Lukaku moves in the opposite direction on loan.
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If the Belgian does leave, Chelsea would then be in the market for another forward or two where there are already a long list of potential candidates to fill the number nine spot in west London. Spanish outlet Marca believes that Tuchel has 18 players he is interested in, with Kounde and Dumfries both included.
The report also says Everton’s Richarlison is on their radar as well as Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, the latter of which will make up his mind on a move to Chelsea once he has returned from holiday. Bayern Munich’s wantaway talisman Robert Lewandowski also makes the list despite the Polish international seemingly preferring a move to Spain.
Defenders from around Europe are also being tipped with a move to the Premier League including Milan Skriniar (Inter), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Presnel Kiempembe and Achraf Hakimi (both PSG), Sergi Dest (Barcelona), Benoit Badiashile (Monaco), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus).
Brighton full-back and Manchester City target Marc Cucurella is also included in the list as well as goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire and Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig.
It would be impossible for Chelsea to bring all of these players to Stamford Bridge next season but the amount of interest shows how big of a summer Tuchel and Boehly have ahead of them. Were they to pull off just five signings from this list it could be considered a job well done, such are the calibre of most of the players on there.
However, the Blues’ new American owner has warned that the club must tread carefully in the market and not throw money around so that they ensure they comply fully with Financial Fair Play rules that he said were “starting to get some teeth.”
Marca's list of Chelsea targets: Richarlison (Everton), Dumfries and Skriniar (Inter), Wesley Fofana (Leicester City), Slonina (Chicago Fire), Sterling (Man City), Dembele (free, Barcelona), Cucurella (Brighton), Lewandowski (Bayern), Romagnoli (free, Milan), Koundé (Seville), Kimpembe and Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Dest (Barcelona), Badiashile (Monaco), Nkunku and Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), De Ligt (Juventus).
