Chelsea transfer news

THOMAS TUCHEL can finally plan more than a week ahead now the sale of Chelsea to Todd Boehly is official.But what the first-team coach sees as he looks up for the first time in three months might not make the best viewing.
Thomas Tuchel knows rebuilding his defence will be a difficult task this summerCredit: Getty
Todd Boehly is set to spend big after taking over the clubCredit: PA
Getting the nod from the Government that a £4.25billion takeover by American Boehly can happen means certainty at last at Stamford Bridge.
Even if the club was staying silent on it yesterday, there is a sense now of looking forwards rather than day-to-day.
There are still loose ends to tie up but few doubt this deal will die now.
Which means more work than ever for Tuchel just when the unassuming German deserves a break most having nursed Chelsea through the most difficult 12 weeks of its 117-year history.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}UK government and Premier League APPROVE Todd Boehly’s Chelsea takeover
UK Government sanctions handcuffed a club infamous for massive transfer spending and it remains banned from buying and selling, even talking about new contracts with existing players.
Tuchel has postponed his summer holiday to hold trans-Atlantic planning meetings with Boehly and faces the biggest job of his career trying to reflate Chelsea’s flatlining presence in the Premier League.
There is the obvious chasm at the heart of his defence with Antonio Rudiger having said his goodbyes.
The last great hardman of English football has walked, robbing Chelsea of that physical intimidation at the back.
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FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Replacing a player with the reflexes of Muhammad Ali, the bravery of John Terry and the pent-up aggression of a pensioner in a bus queue is a huge ask.
Sevilla’s Jules Kounde is the man he wants but even if the Frenchman fits the bill, that is just one slot filled.
Also gone is Andreas Christensen, less robust than Rudiger but vastly experienced after ten years attached to a club which places relentless demands on its personnel.
Left-back Marcos Alonso wants out, captain Cesar Azpilicueta would not say no to moving back to Spain. The entire back line is melting away.
Six weeks into next season, veteran centre-back Thiago Silva turns 38.
Stylish as he is, at times the Brazilian looks it too. Tuchel has hard decisions to make.
Boehly and the consortium he spearheads promise £1.75bn of investment over the next decade in their manifesto.
As grand as it sounds, £175m this summer might not be enough to catch up with the two teams that finished above Chelsea in the league this season – Manchester City and Liverpool.
Tuchel already fears it will be an ‘almost impossible’ job playing catch up, triggering suspicions things may get worse before they get better.
Had Antonio Conte been appointed a few weeks earlier at a now resurgent Tottenham, there is every chance Spurs would have clinched third place at Tuchel’s expense.

Two defeats in the last 13 games combined with Chelsea’s shaky form made it more uncomfortable than it should have been.
And Conte is being given £150m for a team that needs tinkering with rather than large scale reconstruction.
It is at the heart of his team where Tuchel also needs to perform surgery.
It might not be as time-sensitive as the major overhaul at the back, but key midfielder Mason Mount must be nailed down to a new long-term contract.
Mount, 23, was crowned Chelsea’s player of the year for the second year in succession after Sunday’s last-gasp win over relegated Watford.
The dyed-in-the-wool Blue is central to the future. But if nothing is done this summer, he will kick off next season with less than two years left on his contract.
Right-back Reece James has one more year than Mount to go but Boehly’s bean-counters can’t let that one slide either. James is considered one of the best in his position in the country.
There is a sense in the Chelsea dressing room that the club left it too late to get Rudiger’s deal done and that drove him to go.
Experienced playmaker Jorginho is another getting itchy feet, threatening another gap in the midfield.
N’Golo Kante has been described as Chelsea’s ‘Mbappe, de Bruyne and van Dijk’ by gushing boss Tuchel. Yet the World Cup winning France midfielder has just endured a patchy season with injury and he is 31.
And don’t forget Tuchel must also find a way to get the best out of £150m duo Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner up front.
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Finance won’t just turn on like a tap once Boehly and majority shareholder Clearlake Capital get the keys to Stamford Bridge.
It could be weeks before Chelsea are in a position to make formal moves for new players. Tuchel is set fair for the long-term but short-term is still a worry. More

THOMAS TUCHEL will be chomping at the bit for Chelsea to spring into life in the transfer market – and he doesn’t have long left to wait.Todd Boehly’s £4.25bn takeover now has Government and Premier League approval, meaning new signings aren’t too far away.
How Chelsea could look next season after a £200m transfer spree
Reports suggest Boehly is eager to back Tuchel in the upcoming window and will give the German around £200m to play with.
Chelsea are even said to have drawn up an EIGHT-MAN centre-back shortlist to cope with the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
It’s expected to be a busy summer of incomings and outgoings at Stamford Bridge, and Tuchel’s line up could be very different come the start of the new season.
Jules Kounde tops the shortlist of defenders, and the Sevilla man would slot straight in on the right hand side of a back-three if he is recruited.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}UK government and Premier League APPROVE Todd Boehly’s Chelsea takeover
Meanwhile on the other side the left-footed Josko Gvardiol is an option, having impressed at RB Leipzig.
And in attack the Blues are claimed to be plotting an ambitious raid for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at the Etihad at the end of next season, and is an option if Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech or Christian Pulisic depart.
There could be a fresh face in midfield too.
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FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is highly thought of, but his £150m price-tag is likely to price the Blues out of a move.
Monaco man Aurelien Tchouameni is an alternative, and is admired by those in high places at Stamford Bridge.
A midfield duo of Tchouameni and Mateo Kovacic would be likely to strike fear into the hearts of any Premier League side.
Especially with English duo Reece James and Ben Chilwell marauding down the wings either side of them.
Alternatively there are other options for Chelsea should they miss out on any of their top targets.
The Blues have also been linked with a cut-price swoop for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
At just £17m he is certainly an attractive option.

An alternative Chelsea line up next season
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Elsewhere Villarreal defender Pau Torres has been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge.
Torres has numerous Premier League admirers, including Manchester United and Tottenham, and after impressing in Spain would slot straight into the heart of defence were he to sign for the club. More

CHELSEA are set to offer £17million for Juventus star Adrien Rabiot, according to reports. Todd Boehly’s £4.25bn takeover is nearly completion after receiving Government and Premier League approval, meaning the Blues will soon be back in the market for new players.
Chelsea and Newcastle could reportedly battle it out to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien RabiotCredit: Getty
And one potential target is French midfielder Rabiot.
Chelsea are eyeing a cut-price fee for the 27-year-old, according to Tuttosport.
The Italian outlet claim the Blues could table an offer of up to 17m for the former Paris-Saint Germain star who is out of contract in Turin at the end of next season.
Midfielders N’Golo Kante and Jorginho only have one-year left on their Chelsea deals themselves, meaning midfield reinforcements may be necessary at Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}UK government and Premier League APPROVE Todd Boehly’s Chelsea takeover
But money-bags Newcastle could rival the Blues to the signing of Rabiot.
The Magpies are also claimed to be keen with Eddie Howe set for another transfer window splurge.
Rabiot could depart Juve this summer as the Italian club eye a squad overhaul.
For the first time in 11 years the Old Lady finished a season without a trophy, and Max Allegri could only guide his side to fourth-place in Serie A.
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Rabiot made 45 appearances in all competitions but failed to register a single goal all season.
And Chelsea appear to be ready to pounce.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is set to be handed a £200m war chest this summer to fund new signings.
New owner Boehly wants the club to begin closing the gap to title challengers Manchester City and Liverpool, according to the Telegraph.
A cut-price move for Rabiot would not damage the club’s kitty too much ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge. More

NEW Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is reportedly set to hand Thomas Tuchel a bumper £200million transfer war chest this summer. Boehly and his consortium are on the brink of officially taking over the club after the £4.25bn deal received Government and Premier League approval.
Thomas Tuchel could reportedly have up to £200m to spend this summerCredit: Reuters
Todd Boehly’s takeover has been approved by the UK Government and the Premier LeagueCredit: PA
But the Blues will need to make up for lost time in the transfer market.
Sanctions placed on the club mean rivals have been able to conduct business with Chelsea’s potential targets.
Boehly though is keen to close the gap to Manchester City and Liverpool so will hand Thomas Tuchel around £200m to get things started, according to the Telegraph.
Although some of the £200m worth of funds is expected to come from player sales, with the suggestion Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner could all be flogged.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}UK government and Premier League APPROVE Todd Boehly’s Chelsea takeover
Cesar Azpiliceuta’s future is yet to be confirmed and the club are prepared to let Marcos Alonso leave if their valuation of the left-back is met.
Player sales, plus a cash injection from Boehly, would give Tuchel plenty of funds to play with this summer.
It’s claimed the club have drawn up an EIGHT-MAN centre-back shortlist following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Sevilla defender Jules Kounde is top of the list, while there is also interest in RB Leipzig left-footer Josko Gvardiol.

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FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Other options include the likes of Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez and Villarreal’s Pau Torres, plus Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and newly called up England man James Justin.
In attack Manchester City star Raheem Sterling could be targeted if Werner, Ziyech or Pulisic make way.
The 27-year-old has just one-year left on his Etihad contract.
Midfield reinforcements are possible too, with West Ham’s Declan Rice and Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni both appreciated.
And once the takeover is complete the Blues can also work on handing out new contracts to current players.
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Academy graduates Mason Mount and Reece James are both said to be in line for bumper new deals.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy could also be rewarded with fresh terms. More