Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has set a new target ahead
of next season.
It was nothing more than what the Blues, who had only just
secured a spot in next season's Champions League by finishing fourth on the
final day of the Premier League season, deserved, as they dominated the contest
throughout and only ever looked like laying their hands on the trophy for the
first time since 2012.
It was a moment that head coach Thomas Tuchel and the
Chelsea fans could have only dreamt of when he arrived at the club in January,
but the Blues have defied the odds and ended the season as champions of Europe.
With that, though, comes fresh challenges. Chelsea will be
expected to put up a solid defence of their crown next season, as well as look
to launch a Premier League title charge and bridge the gap on the likes of City
and their cross-city rivals, Manchester United.
In a bid to do that, Tuchel, despite the success he has
enjoyed so far with the squad that was assembled by Frank Lampard, will be
looking to add fresh faces to his squad and put his own stamp of authority on
proceedings. As well as that, it is only natural that the German would want to
bring in his own players to match his long-term version.
According to a report by the Telegraph, Tuchel has wasted
little time in putting plans for next season, informing owner Roman Abramovich,
who is poised to reward the German for the weekend's historic win with a new
contract, of what he needs to try and take Chelsea to the next level.
Tuchel, according to the report, has pinpointed signing a
defender, who can ideally operate down the right, a midfielder and, of course,
a striker, with the latter of those three areas of the team in need of being
strengthened most. For all of the qualities Chelsea have illustrated under
Tuchel, scoring goals on a regular basis has been a difficulty, making it clear
why signing a proven goal-getter is at the very top of the former Paris
Saint-Germain chief's to-do list.
The report states that Tuchel is interested in two possible
candidates to play down the right-wing and provide competition for the likes of
Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the wing-back area, with Wolverhampton
Wanderers ace Adama Traore and Jonas Hofmann of Borussia Monchengladbach on the
list.
Whilst bringing new players in will be a key focus for
Tuchel this summer, outgoings are also likely. The futures of England duo
Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham are likely to lie away from Stamford Bridge.
Tomori, who has spent the second half of this season on loan at AC Milan, could
be sold to the Italian giants on a permanent basis for an initial fee of
£25million, whilst Abraham could command a fee of around £40million.
That will hand Tuchel in an initial boost to his transfer
kitty, as well as it being likely that other fringe players will depart, such
as Emerson Palmieri and Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Elsewhere, it is claimed that West Ham United midfield ace
Declan Rice remains at the top of Tuchel's targets for a new
central-midfielder.
On the challenge the summer will present, Tuchel said:
"Two or three [new signings could be very, very good. It’s a constant
thing to never deny change.
"That you always bring new energy, new guys who
question the old beliefs, who challenge everybody in the training and in
matches, so I think it’s a good thing.
"We don’t need another seven and another complete
turnover because it’s also our job to keep on improving, because we have still
a young squad and it’s not about stealing from them the chance to prove it
again that they are capable of growing and evolving.
"But we have some ideas, of course, to make the group
stronger and I think this can always be a positive thing to challenge all of
us."