Thomas Tuchel told £140m Chelsea transfer plan ‘guarantees’ Todd Boehly Champions League wish
Jamie Redknapp has claimed Chelsea would ‘guarantee’ Champions League qualification with the signings of Wesley Fofana, Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The trio have been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as Thomas Tuchel looks to put his stamp on the Blues. Todd Boehly has already welcomed five new faces to west London this summer.
The arrivals of Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina, who has returned to the United States on loan, has cost the American-led consortium an eye-watering fee in the region of £170million. But, despite the window slamming shut in just a couple of weeks, Chelsea look well positioned to make a few more additions to the squad.
football.london understand that the Blues are currently holding talks with Fofana’s representatives over a potential move , with a fee yet to be agreed upon with Leicester City. Meanwhile, regarding De Jong , it’s understood that Chelsea are still in talks as Tuchel demands more creativity in his midfield.
It’s also said that it remains to be seen whether Aubameyang favours a move to west London. Though, the Blues boss is eager to reunite with the former Arsenal captain who prospered under his stewardship at Borussia Dortmund. With three big names, who are valued at a combined £139.5million by CIES Football Observatory, on Chelsea’s shopping list, Redknapp detailed what could happen at Stamford Bridge. The former Liverpool midfielder told Sky Sports:
“If they get Fofana, Aubameyang and De Jong, they’re guaranteeing Champions League football with that. “I’m a massive fan of De Jong. I feel sorry for him in a way because he’s in limbo. It feels like he wants to come to London and isn’t too keen on going to Manchester. Whoever gets him, he’s a game changer for them. Chelsea certainly have problems in that area – Jorginho is not long-term in terms of his physicality.
“He’s done brilliantly and been an amazing player for Chelsea, Champions League winner and for Italy winning the European Championships, but De Jong gives them a different dimension with pace and strength, playing at the base of midfield, giving N’Golo Kante license to go and do what he wants. “He’d be an amazing signing and a real statement of intent if they could beat Man Utd to that one. As for Aubameyang, he was such a disappointment at Arsenal towards the end. He did OK at Barcelona, but they’re obviously keen to offload him again. As a stop-gap for a year, it probably wouldn’t be the worst signing.
“I was quite critical of him last year. I didn’t think he put the effort in for Arsenal. It looked like he wasn’t the same player. But for one season… It’s not one that would inspire me, but he would come with a bit of a point to prove.”
