There are new reports that Chelsea is preparing to take advantage of the many expiring contracts in many of the top clubs across Europe to strengthen their squad in the summer ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel has also specially asked the club to go after Real Madrid defender Eder Militao as they contact their other targets, one of which is estranged Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele.
These reports claim that Tuchel is looking past his current defence – whose contract situations have not been resolved – to bring in new blood in Militao. The Brazilian has three and a half years left on his current Real Madrid contract, however, and has finally nailed a spot in the team following Sergio Ramos’ departure to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
It is also reported that Real Madrid are keen on opening talks with the 24-year-old former FC Porto defender over an extension.
Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen are all out of a contract at Stamford Bridge this summer and the talks between the club’s and the players have been unrewarding. Real Madrid was even reported to be interested in Rudiger but the talks have since cooled down.
Azpilicueta is a target of Barcelona and Christensen has reportedly spoken to Bayern Munich, who want to get him in to replace the departing Niklas Süle, who is also one of the players Chelsea is monitoring for a summer swoop.
For this reason, Tuchel is preparing for the worst case scenario and has asked the Chelsea hierarchy to prepare for a big push for Militao.
Chelsea’s summer swoop plans
The January transfer window ended without Chelsea making any new signings and giving Thomas Tuchel any new players to work with. However, the European champions have moved on and are already looking ahead to the summer.
Militao, while not in the category Chelsea are targeting, is one of Madrid’s lowest earners. Signed for £41 million in 2019 from Porto, Los Blancos put the Brazilian on a £2.5 million salary, which is ten times lower than a number of players in the squad.
Real Madrid are looking to extend his deal beyond 2026 and improve his salary to ward off potential swoops like the one Chelsea is planning. However, it remains to be seen what economic offers either club will bring to the table before Militao in the summer.
Jules Kounde of Sevilla continues to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge after almost joining the UEFA Champions League title holders last summer and in the just concluded January transfer window.
Dembele is another target and is also one that Barcelona is willing to let go, if the events of the just concluded window are anything to go by. The Frenchman upset the Barcelona hierarchy by turning down several contract renewal offers, leading to the club asking him to leave in January.
He didn’t leave, choosing to stay instead and now risks not being played for the remainder of the season.
“I am very surprised that he did not accept a proposal he had from an English club,” Laporta said on Tuesday about the Dembele issue. “He did not want to.
“It did not make sense, because it was not good for him or for the club. He would have allowed us to work with more tranquillity in the market.
“We think that Dembele already has a contract with another club; they have insinuated that to us. What we will do is defend the interests of the club.”
Chelsea to focus mainly on defensive reinforcements
As stated earlier, the Blues are mainly looking to replace their own out of contract players with other out of contract players. Bayern Munich’s Niklas Süle and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Matthias Ginger are high on the list alongside Kounde and Militao.
AC Milan centre-back Alessio Romagnoli is another name on Chelsea’s list.
