Chelsea are said to be leading the race to sign Raheem Sterling this summer, but Thomas Tuchel has been told that the Blues can sign an alternative who is 'better than Kylian Mbappe'. The Manchester City forward has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge lately, though Real Madrid and Arsenal are also said to be interested in his services.
With the German boss eager to bolster his strike force this summer, Sterling hasn't been the only forward on the club's transfer radar. Chelsea have also been heavily linked with a deal that reunites Tuchel with former colleague Ousmane Dembele.
The west Londoners are understood to be favourites to sign Dembele, who sees his contract at the Camp Nou expire at the end of the month. The 25-year-old rejected Barcelona's latest effort to retain his services, according to journalist Sique Rodriguez Gairi from Spanish radio network La Cadena SER.
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The report adds that Blaugrana will make no further effort to keep the France international, handing Chelsea - among other clubs too - a free run at the chance to sign a player who is 'better than Mbappe'.
Speaking earlier this season, Barcelona president Joan Laporta insisted that the Frenchman was ‘better’ than Mbappe. In January, he said: "We have a very good relationship with Dembele and he wants to stay.
"We also want him because he is a great player. These are situations that need a negotiation with the representatives who want the best for the player. I am enthusiastic about Dembele – he is better than Mbappe."
Tuchel is known to be a big admirer of Dembele, with the pair having worked together at Borussia Dortmund. The duo enjoyed time alongside one another in the Bundesliga - so much so that the German's management steered Dembele towards a huge £135.5million move to the Catalan side.
It's believed that Dembele decided to delay the decision regarding his future until the Blues' takeover was completed, despite interest from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, the Press Association claim. football.london understand that Chelsea are indeed interested in the Frenchman and could move for him this summer. However, it's believed that the club will likely need to make space for his arrival with the sale of an attacker.
