Chelsea make first transfer decision since Thomas Tuchel appointment
Chelsea: New boss Thomas Tuchel in profile
Chelsea defender Baba Rahman is close to leaving the club on loan until the end of the season, according to reports. The 26-year-old has struggled to cement a place in the Blues side since his arrival six years ago and does not appear to be in new boss Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the rest of the campaign.
Rahman has played just 15 times for Chelsea during his spell in west London and looks set to depart in search of regular first-team minutes.
The left-back will join Greek side PAOK on a six-month loan deal in the coming days, according to Sport24.
The report claims that Rahman was initially offered to Olympiakos, who turned down the chance to sign him on a temporary basis, before Chelsea received enquiries from the likes of Middlesbrough and Watford.
The move will mark Chelsea’s first transfer since Tuchel was appointed as Frank Lampard’s successor on Tuesday evening.
Rahman is expected to replace Dimitris Giannoulis, who recently completed a move from PAOK to Norwich City, on the left side of his new club’s defence.
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The Ghanaian arrived at Chelsea from Augsburg in 2015 after the Blues forked out £23million for his signature.
He has been a regular for the club’s under-23 side this season, never threatening to trouble Ben Chilwell for the starting left-back berth.
Rahman will become Chelsea’s fourth loan exit of the transfer window after Danny Drinkwater, Juan Castillo and Fikayo Tomori were shipped out earlier in the month.
It is claimed that Tuchel could sanction a number of additional departures before Monday’s deadline.
The 47-year-old has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge to replace former boss Frank Lampard, who was sacked on Monday after a run of just two wins from eight Premier League matches.
Tuchel announced his intentions to take England’s top flight by storm after his appointment was confirmed by the Blues.
“I would like to thank Chelsea FC for their confidence in me and my staff,” he told the club website.
“We all have the greatest respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea. At the same time, I cannot wait to meet my new team and compete in the most exciting league in football.
“I am grateful to now be part of the Chelsea family – it feels amazing!”
Tuchel joins Chelsea after he was dismissed from his role at French champions Paris Saint-Germain in December.
The German has also managed the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Mainz during his career in coaching.
He will take charge against Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night as Chelsea look to arrest their slide and claw back the gap to Premier League leaders Manchester United.
The Blues currently occupy ninth place, eleven points adrift of the Red Devils and six points short of the division’s top four.
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