Chelsea have three-man centre-back transfer shortlist including Man Utd and Arsenal target

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Chelsea reportedly have three centre-back targets this summer, as Thomas Tuchel looks to build on his side’s Champions League win last season. The Blues also finished fourth in the Premier League last campaign and will be targeting their first league title since 2017.

Their current first-team central defenders are Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma, and Antonio Rudiger, as well as Cesar Azpilicueta who can also play in that role.

Reece James, who has predominantly played wing-back under Tuchel, also filled in in that position towards the end of last season.

They also have both Ethan Ampadu and Malang Sarr who will be returning to the club after loan spells.

But Tuchel is still clearly intent on strengthening in that position, and The Athletic is reporting that both Arsenal target Ben White and Raphael Varane – a player that Manchester United have been linked with all summer – are on their shortlist.

There is also rumoured to be some interest in Niklas Sule of Bayern Munich.

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According to the report, Sergio Ramos was also a player the Blues looked at before he moved to PSG.

Whether they will look to offload any of their current defenders, remains to be seen.

One defender who has already left the club is 20-year-old Marc Guehi who, having spent last season on loan at Swansea, signed for Crystal Palace on Thursday.

Their interest in another defender would imply that Tuchel is keen to stick with the 3-4-2-1 system that helped them become European champions earlier this year.

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In that final against Manchester City, they started with a back-three of Rudiger, Silva, and Azpilicueta, who kept a clean sheet as they won 1-0.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are reportedly still keen on signing a striker this summer, with Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland someone they are still interested in.

The Blues reportedly saw their opening offer for the Norwegian rejected by Dortmund, according to Sky Germany.

The German club reiterated that Haaland is not for sale.

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However, the player’s agent, Mino Raiola, continues to be open-minded when it comes to a move this summer as he continues talks with Chelsea in the background.

The 20-year-old’s £64million release clause becomes active next summer, which will interest plenty of clubs across Europe.

Having already lost Jadon Sancho to United this summer, Dortmund are not willing to let their talisman go this year.

It has been reported in Germany, though, that an offer of around £150m would leave them with no choice but to accept it.

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