Todd Boehly, part of the Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium that owns Chelsea, wants to make ‘some bold signings’ this summer, according to reports.
The consortium succeeded Roman Abramovich after a successful 19-year spell at Stamford Bridge and will be hoping to replicate his trophy haul during their time at the club.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Boehly is looking to make bold signings this summer for Thomas Tuchel as they prepare for their first summer working together.
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Chelsea’s new owners are believed to be ready to hand the German head coach £200m in the transfer market, with several targets already identified.
The Blues are losing both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in the summer on free transfers, with the former officially completing a move to Real Madrid.
Therefore, Chelsea have identified two targets in RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.
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Gvardiol is a natural left-sided centre-back, whilst Kounde would likely play on the right of a back three.
Furthermore, Tuchel has been heavily linked with a reunion with his former star winger Ousmane Dembele. The pair worked together during their time at Borussia Dortmund before Tuchel departed the club and Dembele made a record move to Barcelona.
The 25-year-old is out of contract at the Camp Nou this summer and is set for a departure, with Chelsea having reportedly offered a four-year contract to the French international.
The move would fit in with Boehly’s plan to make a ‘bold signing’ this summer, but Chelsea have an excess of options in attack, with Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic all operating in wider areas.
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“He is a very good player when he is in his top level," Tuchel said of Dembele in January. "I am very fortunate to have trained him in my time at Dortmund. It was only one year, it should have been longer. I needed to leave and he decided to leave."
Also, Dembele’s France teammate, Christopher Nkunku has also been targeted by Chelsea. The 24-year-old has been impressive in the Bundesliga, netting 35 goals and registering 20 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions.
Chelsea were handed a boost as Nkunku admitted that he will ‘think carefully’ about his future as several clubs are interested in signing him this summer.
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He said: “It’s no secret there are clubs that are interested in me. Yes, it’s flattering. But it’s also flattering to have a club like Leipzig doing everything to keep me.
“Here, we will have to think carefully and make a good decision. The World Cup is coming to life and this is a parameter to be taken into account.
“Like I said, you just have to think it through.”
It remains to be seen as to who will come through the doors at Stamford Bridge this summer, but a ‘bold’ strategy will hopefully see Chelsea make additions to the squad to compete with Manchester City and Liverpool next season.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Football, Todd Boehly, Thomas Tuchel
Nick Emms