Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has three big summer transfer targets who inspired January plan

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Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has three big-money targets ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports. The Blues did not make a first-team addition during the January market despite suffering several key injuries over the last few weeks. 

First-choice wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell are sidelined for an extended period. 

The latter has suffered a serious knee injury and is expected to be out until next season.  

But Chelsea did not source replacement for either of their England pair. Instead, they added 18-year-olds Dylan Williams and Mason Burstow from Derby and Charlton respectively, but they are expected only to come into the team’s academy set-up initially.  

And it has come to light why the Stamford Bridge outfit did not want to make a fresh addition to Tuchel’s first-team squad in the winter. 

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Tuchel has three main targets for the summer and they are likely to cost vast sums of money.  

West Ham’s Declan Rice, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni are on Tuchel’s shortlist, according to The Athletic.  

Chelsea’s thinking was that a January signing would have taken a chunk out of the budget prepared for the trio, the report continues.  

Rice, in particular, is known to be valued at around £100m by West Ham. 

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It means that Tuchel must make do with what he has as he seeks to claw his way back into the title race.  

A run of poor form around Christmas means Chelsea are now 10 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City. 

Liverpool, in second, are only a point ahead of Chelsea, with City clear favourites to retain their gong.  

Chelsea have received criticism from some supporters and media for allowing Tuchel’s squad to become too top-heavy.  

The German clearly wanted to sign a new centre-back in the summer, with his pursuit of Kounde played out in public. 

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That search for a new defender could become even more pressing in the summer as Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta are all out of contract in June.  

Tuchel has an incredible amount of talent in forward areas and has struggled to fit them into one team.  

The Athletic claim that at least three Chelsea attackers are considering their futures.  

The Blues did not allow any players to leave in January. 

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