Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel enjoyed a prolific transfer window this summer with two big-name signings in Romelu Lukaku and Saul Niguez sure to bolster Chelsea’s depth going forward in the 2021-22 campaign.
Iran soccer has found its takers as of late and it would not be surprising to see a new-look Chelsea outfit scout talented players from across the country in the coming years.
Tuchel will be delighted to have a proven goal-getter in Lukaku at his disposal now with the Stamford Bridge returnee expected to hit the ground running once again in Premier League football for the Blues.
Deadline day signing Saul will come of much importance to Tuchel’s options in the centre of the park with the incoming Spain international expected to give a tough challenge to the likes of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante for a starting role on the Chelsea teamsheet.
In terms of outgoings, Chelsea managed to offload the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Tiémoué Bakayoko and Tammy Abraham among others to create some much-needed vacancies in the Blues first-team camp.
Tuchel was smart in his dealings with other clubs as the marginalised defensive figures in the Chelsea camp Kurt Zouma and Emerson Palmieri secured moves to their favoured destinations.
But there were some players who found a shortage of suitors in the transfer market this time around as they face an uncertain future at Chelsea post this summer’s transfer window –
Here are five fringe players in Thomas Tuchel’s ranks who failed to seal a move away from Chelsea this summer –
1. Ross Barkley
Once a regular for the England national team, the former Everton man could not secure his move away from Stamford Bridge in this summer despite the speculation that had surrounded Barkley’s future at the club.
Burnley were rumoured to be in the fray for the midfield man but Sean Dyche’s side did not extend a formal approach to land his signature in the final hours of the window on deadline day.
2. Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Another highly-promising midfield talent who was once tipped for a major role for Chelsea, Loftus-Cheek’s return to the fold at the Bridge from his last season’s loan stint at Fulham had given birth to talk of his exit from Thomas Tuchel’s side.
With the Chelsea boss pursuing a move for a new midfield face in the transfer market, Loftus-Cheek was backed to call it quits at the club to seal a switch elsewhere but the right offer never ended up coming for the 25-year-old.
3. Timo Werner
Having arrived at Stamford Bridge only last summer in a big-money move few expected Timo Werner to leave Chelsea in spite of a timid debut campaign from the German striker.
However, Romelu Lukaku’s arrival suggested that Tuchel might deem Werner surplus to requirements with the Chelsea manager facing no shortage of attacking options to choose from.
4. Hakim Ziyech
Ziyech was another of Frank Lampard’s fresh faces at the scene last summer and the Moroccan international playmaker endured a debut season full of mixed fortunes in front of the goal for his new side.
The rumour mill claimed that it was Serie A giants AC Milan who held a strong interest in signing the former Ajax man but pulled the plug on any potential deal owing to concerns on the pricing front.
5. Antonio Rudiger
The German central defender remains one of Thomas Tuchel’s most trusted men on the field and following the latter’s appointment to the top job at Chelsea, Rudiger has reclaimed his starting role in the XI.
But with uncertainty over his contract talks with the board as his current deal runs out next summer, the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur had been credited as suitors for the Chelsea defender.
