Three of Chelsea’s summer transfer targets revealed by credible source

It is almost nine years since Chelsea last won at Old Trafford. Let that fact sink in for a second. Juan Mata got the goal, and a very young-looking Cesar Azpilicueta was on the winning team. That period is far too long – it needs ending tonight when the Blues play Manchester United. Thomas Tuchel is the man to resolve this bad run of form against a Premier League foe, if any manager is. Incidentally, as well as being particularly pleasing news, the German confirmed that he is committed to the Pensioners for next season during Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.

You can read extensively here about how Pride of London expect CFC to lineup for Thursday’s clash. MUFC are sixth and still have a mathematical chance of finishing in the EPL top four. Chelsea sit third with almost definite Champions League football to be excited about in 2022/23. I do not envisage much chance of Arsenal in fourth or fifth placed Tottenham Hotspur catching the West London club. It is a possibility, but winning the extra game in hand tonight creates a breathable gap.

The United camp has injury worries, presently: Paul Pogba, Fred, Edinson Cavani, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho are all unlikely to feature. Manchester Evening News offer insight into how they believe the Red Devils XI will look. Samuel Luckhurst predicts a flexible seeming 4-3-3 formation for Man Utd; with a debut for emerging fan favourite Hannibal Mejbri.

Luckhurst places David De Gea in goal, with Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane in front of the Spaniard. Diogo Dalot and the promoted Alvaro Fernandez get the nod as fullbacks. Meanwhile, Nemanja Matic along with Scott McTominay should be marshalling the midfield. They will be joined by Hannibal and, possibly, fresh face Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to the journalist.

PoL will now discuss three Blues summer transfer targets which were revealed by credible source within the CFC sphere, Nizaar Kinsella. First of all, Antonio Rudiger’s impending exit from the club has allegedly caused upset behind the scenes at the Cobham training ground. Goal’s reporter suggests the squad, irrespective of a clearly dignified outward demeanour during sanctions, are now unsettled by the so-called “aggressive leader’s” choice to move. Rudiger is said to be loved by teammates and his boss alike. In addition, the players know that they cannot ‘outrun off-field issues forever’.

Another obvious byproduct of the defender’s imminent department is that a rather large hole to fill emerges. Rudiger was integral to the Chelsea defence, for several reasons, and there really is no way around that fact. Though there are fit replacements, I am genuinely unconvinced that anybody can insert what the soon-to-be Real Madrid asset brought to the Pensioners side. I don’t want to put a further downer onto the faithful, but the unique CB is irreplaceable.

Thankfully the Fulham Road outfit have much better qualified scouts than myself who will make suggestions to the eventual new ownership, with Tuchel, regarding their main selections. Andreas Christensen is also leaving; the Dane will join Barcelona. Therefore a defensive rebuild is necessary if Malang Sarr, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill are not offered tangible chances.

So, which athletes are on the wishlist? Let’s find out. The initial centrehalf on Kinsella’s main list of three – I’ll explain the bonus one later on, don’t worry – is Jules Kounde of Sevilla. Kounde is a France International, a detail which immediately peaks the interest of football connoisseurs. Additionally, the 23-year-old can play at rightback as well as CB, giving a kind of Reece James allure to the Frenchman.

I wouldn’t say that Kounde offers anything like the goal threat of a Rudiger-type. Not to mention that a 5-foot-10-inch frame won’t translate to being a bully on set-pieces such as the man from Germany. Yet the former does have a physical presence, and is also an advancing defender who could cost up to £50million.

As you can see below from the in the know Kinsella’s tweet, the two other potential signings are Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe and Jose Gimenez, who is currently playing for Atletico Madrid. Beginning with Kimpembe, who I would describe as more desirable than usual due to being a left-footed CB, as ‘Toni’ occupied the LCB area. His pedigree is undoubted as a World Cup winner with France.

While the Beaumont-sur-Oise-born man also has an array of other trophies attained with PSG. Fee-wise, transfermarkt values the 26-year-old at approximately £36m, at the time of writing. Tuchel was said to be an admirer and interested on behalf of CFC back in December 2021.

Gimenez is the third prominent man to talk about. The Uruguayan is tenacious, and makes well-timed challenges through patient vision, which are staples of any solid defence. Additionally, the 27-year-old is experienced, a great passer and can be deployed on both sides as a pacy CB. His value has been estimated as expensive as £63m; with a contract not expiring until 2025.

The extra prospective ‘chosen one’ to lead or be a part of the defensive line, as per Kinsella, is RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol. Chelsea fancied the 20-year-old after scouting him when he made his breakthrough at Dinamo Zagreb circa 2019/20. Furthermore, the writer claims Gvardiol is amongst the foremost Under-21s around. However, the Croatian might not be ‘the best fit’ for the Blues, as his arrival may block Colwill’s rise.