Chelsea’s exorbitant summer spend paid off in the end, as the Blues won the UEFA Champions League thanks to a Kai Havertz goal. However, reports claim that the London outfit is looking to add even more high-priced players to their squad.
Chelsea’s balance sheet showed over 150 million pounds in red once the summer window of 2020 was shut. The Blues had gone on an incredible spending spree, capitalizing on pandemic-hit finances that had obstructed most of the top clubs’ ability to compete with them for key targets. They had money to spend, thanks largely to a transfer ban a year before. The fact that several of the key positions had been ably filled by academy prospects further allowed them to go on an almost reckless spree in the transfer window.
Six new faces stood out among the thirteen that arrived last summer. Among those were German forwards Timo Werner and Havertz and the veteran Thiago Silva who Frank Lampard had convinced to sign for Chelsea on a free transfer. Expectations were raised because of the remarkable spending. Aas the Blues languished ninth in the league midway through the season, Lampard had to pay for his job.
Chelsea’s summer spends looked in vain until two of those big-money signings helped them win the Champions League. Werner created the space for Havertz to run into and score past Ederson in a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the final. Their splurge justified, and a shining new trophy in hand, Chelsea are prepared to spend even more this summer.
The Telegraph reports that Thomas Tuchel will be handed a war chest to go on and strengthen his squad. The German is also expected to pen down a new contract in the coming weeks, which will keep him at the club for the long term. The report claims that the tactician met Blues’ owner Roman Abramovich for the first time in Porto, as his team celebrated its win on the pitch. It was there that he promised the Russian businessman a Chelsea empire, backed by the arrival of new players in the summer.
Tuchel could get over 200 million pounds to spend this summer, reports the Telegraph. That figure is likely to be achieved or boosted by the offloading of several fringe players, including striker Tammy Abraham. Despite starring for the Blues in the first half of the season, the Englishman has since been demoted to a reserve by Tuchel. The Englishman did not even make the bench for the Champions League final.
Chelsea are targeting a new out-and-out striker this summer. Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku and Tottenham’s Harry Kane are the options the Blues are considering, and a move for either of them could be made in due course. Meanwhile, Tuchel also wants to add another midfielder and centre-back to the mix. The Telegraph also reports of the German’s surprise interest in Wolves winger Adama Traore, whom he sees as potential cover for Reece James in the right wing-back position.
Borussia M midfielder Jonas Hofmann is also being eyed as an option to add to the team. The German was one of the shining lights of an otherwise forgettable season for the Foals, who completely missed out on European football. Chelsea are also looking to sign a new centre-back despite Silva expected to agree to a new one-year deal. Tuchel also wants compatriot Antonio Rudiger to commit his future to the Blues. Rudiger was one of the key players under the tactician and played a starring role in the Blues’ Champions League win.
