Report: 3 players Thomas Tuchel MUST sign this summer to bolster his squad

Thomas Tuchel looks all set for a busy summer transfer window with the Chelsea head coach, aided by the new ownership at Stamford Bridge, hoping to overhaul his squad before the next season kicks off.

Tuchel has plenty of work to put in for what remains of this summer’s window and with the German pushing for new additions to bolster the ranks, some of the biggest names across European club football have been linked with a move to the Blues.

England international forward Raheem Sterling and Serie A’s defensive talent Kalidou Koulibaly have been unveiled as the recruits of the Todd Boehly era at Chelsea but speculation suggests that there are a couple of new signings waiting to be announced with Tuchel expected to bring in fresh faces and bridge the gap with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

Boehly is more than willing to back his coach Tuchel on the financial front and provide him with the funds to sign big-name players and compete for silverware in the post-Roman Abramovich life at the club.

Here are 3 players we believe the Chelsea boss should eye up a move for before the transfer window slams shut-

1. Jules Kounde

The French central defender, a long-standing name on Tuchel’s wishlist, is ever so close to joining his suitors Chelsea who have stepped up their efforts to land him from Sevilla.

Barcelona’s strong interest in moving in for the 23-year-old Kounde threatened to play spoilsport to Chelsea’s plans but with the Catalan giants seemingly out of the race, for now, Tuchel could be set to sign his second centre-back of the summer to add to his backline.

2.Nathan Ake

Chelsea need to bolster a depleted defensive lineup in the aftermath of parting ways with Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and quite possibly Cesar Azpilicueta with the latter understood to have agreed upon personal terms with Barcelona.

Despite Koulibaly’s recruitment and Kounde on the verge of making the move to Stamford Bridge, Manchester City’s centre-back Ake is another priority target for Tuchel with the former Chelsea defender keen on re-signing for the Blues this summer.

3. Declan Rice

A tough transfer to pull off by all means for Chelsea and Tuchel but the West Ham United midfielder Rice remains one of the coveted names in the market following his stellar run of displays at the London Stadium.

West Ham boss David Moyes had made it clear that Rice leaves the West Ham fold only in the event of a ‘crazy offer’ which could be tempting enough for Chelsea to move in for the ex-Blues academy product.

Rice has Chelsea’s rivals Manchester United and Manchester City involved too in the chase for his signature but a return to west London to turn out for the Blues is said to be the English midfielder’s desire eight years after he left Stamford Bridge.