Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea can’t catch up to the Premier League’s elite. The German said this after his team lost the FA Cup final to Liverpool on Saturday, their second defeat to the Reds this season.
Chelsea fell behind Liverpool and Manchester City halfway through the season. They must improve to qualify for the Champions League next season.
“It’s maybe impossible, I have to say, maybe impossible. They are improving their squad in every transfer window they have,” Tuchel said when asked about catching Liverpool. “It seems like we are losing key players. We are losing, of course, Antonio Rudiger, we’re losing Andreas Christensen. So this is tough and we already have a gap to close.”
Other teams, like Liverpool, have had fruitful transfer windows in previous years. Express Sport considers four acquisitions Tuchel might make to build a title-contending starting 11.
Jules Kounde
Chelsea spent the summer wooing Kounde without success. Sevilla refused to sell the Frenchman, and Chelsea wouldn’t meet his £80m release clause.
Kounde was angry at not being able to depart but has had a fantastic season. They lead the Spanish league until falling behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The 23-year-old centre-back would slot effortlessly into Tuchel’s 3-4-3 as a right-sided centre defender. 2021-22: 31 La Liga games.
Pau Torres
Torres was also linked to the Premier League this season. Manchester United was interested but signed Raphael Varane to pair with Harry Maguire.
Torres, 25, has spent his entire career with Villarreal, saving a loan spell at Malaga. If a team needs a center-back in the summer, he may transfer.
Chelsea will need two players to replace the position after Rudiger and Christensen left on free transfers. Torres was valued at £50m last summer, so Chelsea must pay substantially to replace him.
Aurelien Tchouameni
Declan Rice may be too expensive for Chelsea this summer. West Ham estimates the former Blues academy product between £100-150m and he is expected to replace Mark Noble as club captain this summer.
Chelsea may find Tchouameni cheaper. The Monaco midfielder has gotten into France’s top team.
Tchouameni is a tough-tackling defensive midfielder who loves to push the ball through midfield. Real Madrid and Liverpool are reportedly rivals.
Darwin Nunez
Tuchel has failed to find a starting striker. Romelu Lukaku is just now regaining his Inter Milan form after a difficult season.
Kai Havertz plays effectively upfront but hasn’t scored in seven games. Initially, he was recruited as an attacking midfielder.
Chelsea might sign Benfica’s Darwin Nunez. Arsenal and Manchester United are allegedly interested in the 22-year-old.
Benfica’s Uruguayan forward scared Liverpool in the Champions League. He scored twice as Liverpool beat Benfica in the quarterfinals.
Nunez has 34 goals this season, including 26 in 28 Liga games. He’d fit Tuchel’s style more than Lukaku.
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