The recently crowned Champions of Europe Chelsea have work to do in the summer transfer window which is now underway as Thomas Tuchel looks to make a mark with new additions on west London.
Tuchel joined the Blues in the early days of 2021 and has led them to the much-coveted Champions League title just four months into his hiring, meaning that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will be lured in backing the German with a tidy sum of money to bring in new players and challenge for Premier League glory next season.
Departures are expected from Stamford Bridge this summer with players who have fallen down the pecking order since Tuchel took over likely to seek exits in order to further their minutes on the pitch elsewhere.
Tammy Abraham, Kurt Zouma and Kepa are some faces in the Chelsea first-team squad which might not stay put at the club beyond the summer in light of the speculation that has gained ground in recent times.
Tuchel, however, will look to make the most of certain players leaving and using the funds obtained from their sales to shore up his squad as he goes after the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool who will be gunning for the English top-flight crown.
Here are three players we think will be high on Chelsea’s radar and could possibly be unveiled as new signings this summer-
1. Romelu Lukaku
The former Blues striker has been linked with a return to the Bridge following his brilliant Serie A title-winning season with Inter Milan in which he chipped in with 24 goals.
Lukaku has made a name for himself as one of the most lethal finishers in the final third of the pitch of late and with Chelsea struggling to find one of their own in such an area, the Belgium international seems a viable addition to Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Timo Werner has failed to meet expectations just a summer into his big-money move from RB Leipzig and the German could find himself relegated to the bench should Chelsea make an approach for Lukaku.
2. Declan Rice
Rice was instrumental in West Ham United’s superb Premier League campaign this time around and the England international once again finds himself the subject of transfer rumours this summer.
Manchester United are also reportedly in the fray to sign the Hammers man but his former association with Chelsea as a youth player could tip the scale in the west Londoners’ favour to bring back Rice to Stamford Bridge.
3. Niklas Süle
Another player who has been a target for Chelsea is Bayern Munich and German central defender Niklas Sule who is close to entering into his final year of contract with the Bundesliga champions.
The Blues are all set to extend Thiago Silva’s stay by another year following their Champions League success but with the Brazillian now 36 years old, Tuchel will hope to bring in much younger quality talent to bolster his defence.
Sule could prove to be a great fit in the three-man backline fielded by Tuchel alongside fellow German Rudiger and Andres Christensen but it remains to be seen whether Chelsea enters the mix to sign him ahead of the new season.
Here is how Chelsea could lineup for the 2021-22 season with their prospective signings-
