Thomas Tuchel Believes Chelsea Will Only Need a Few Signings To Compete Effectively Next Season

Thomas Tuchel Believes Chelsea Will Only Need a Few Signings To Compete Effectively Next Season

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:01 PM
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  • The unresolved ownership situation at Chelsea is hindering the club from buying or even approaching potential targets
  • Chelsea will lose defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on a free transfer, but Tuchel maintains that only a few additions are necessary
  • The Blues rivals are expected to bolster their ranks in the upcoming window with high-profile marquee signings

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has maintained that his side will only need to make a few changes in the summer transfer window. The Blues still can’t sell or buy players due to the ban imposed on club owner Roman Abramovich.

Tuchel believes that once the ownership situation is resolved, Chelsea will only require ‘cosmetic’ surgery.

Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel applauds the fans after The FA Cup Semi-Final match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium. Photo by Craig Mercer
Source: Getty Images

Key on his agenda will be to get new defenders, with both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to leave on free transfers. Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is also out of contract, and his Chelsea future remains in limbo.

It is demanding enough nowadays in football to lose this kind of quality in a back three, lose two key players for free. It can be very demanding.

The Blues are said to be hot on the heels of Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, Villareal’s Pau Torres and Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana as they seek to fill the void left by the departing centre backs.

Tuchel determined to stay on at Chelsea

The Daily Mail reports that the German head coach was also quick to refute claims that he might leave Chelsea. He believes that the new owner might not have the funding Abramovich provided, but he is determined nonetheless.

This is maybe for me very important to give this message. I am committed. I am looking forward to it and I am passionate about it. And as soon as we can act we will try to act and turn around things and make it from a disadvantage to maybe an advantage.

The tenants of Stamford Bridge will be aware that their rivals will be busy strengthening their ranks in the summer. Manchester City have already made a move for Borussia Dortmund’s hitman Erling Haaland.

Arsenal, on the other hand, are said to be eyeing Gabriel Jesus, Youri Tielemans and perhaps Tammy Abraham. Manchester United are perhaps going to be the busiest of all clubs. New manager Erik Ten Haag is expected to undertake a major overhaul with close to five players set to leave.

Chelsea travel to face Manchester United in a Premier League game on Thursday night. Only an unforeseeable major slip-up will relegate Chelsea to the UEFA Europa League. They are currently in third position with 65 points. Victory at Old Trafford will widen their gap over Arsenal in fourth by 8 points.

Their opponents meanwhile have lost footing in their quest to play in Europe's elite tournament next season. Three consecutive away defeats have left Ralf Rangnick's side in dire need of miracles to be able to finish in the top four. It has been another below-par season for the Red Devils as they are set to finish a fifth consecutive season without a trophy.

Rivals will require an open-heart surgery

While Tuchel says Chelsea will only require a ‘cosmetic surgery,’ his United counterpart Ralf Rangnick insists that they will have to perform an ‘open heart surgery.’ Sports Brief had earlier reported that Rangnick believes in a major overhaul and not just a ‘minor cosmetic surgery.’

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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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