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Thomas Tuchel hopes his Chelsea side can respond to their elimination from the Champions League quarter-finals in midweek when they take on Crystal Palace on Sunday. With this weekend’s semi-final scheduled to take place at Wembley, the Eagles are all that stands in the way of the Blues reaching another cup final this season.
The game also remains the only feasible silver piece left on the table for Tuchel and his men this season, with the league title looking too far away at this stage. Speaking about Palace’s challenge this weekend, the head coach said in his pre-match press conference: “For us and for them, it’s a great opportunity to play at Wembley.
“We need to be very well prepared to control counter-attacks, individual quality, dribbling and play with the same level of intensity.” However, in the back of his mind, no doubt, he will be on how his team can get stronger in the transfer window before next season.
READ MORE:Every word Thomas Tuchel said on Chelsea acquisition, FA Cup, Conor Gallagher Marc Guehi, team news
With all that said, football.london has taken a look at the latest Chelsea transfer rumours.
Three clubs line up for Antonio Rudiger
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is one of three centre-backs who could leave the club this summer as a free agent. The 29-year-old has been a stalwart at the back of Tuchel since his arrival, often playing a dominant role in the back three.
However, with his contract in place, the Blues face a struggle to keep him at the club for the foreseeable future. And now, Sport reports that PSG, Manchester United and Tottenham are all fighting over his signing.
The three sides have previously been linked with a move for the Germany international, although Antonio Conte is said to have met with Rudiger about a possible move to his London rivals.
Aurelien Tchouameni strike
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchoumeni in the summer, with the youngster seen as an option to refresh the midfield ranks. However, ESPN reports that Manchester United have joined the race to sign the France international.
The 22-year-old is said to be of interest to Erik ten Hag, who is set to join the Red Devils in the summer as their new manager. Whether this will affect Chelsea’s transfer plans remains to be seen, but it’s still a huge blow if they wanted to make it through unopposed.
The demands of Jorginho’s contract with Juventus
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is another who has his future up in the air, as his contract expires in 2023. However, the Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia, reports that the Italian international’s representatives have held talks with Juventus about a possible move.
The 30-year-old is said to have requested a salary of €7m (£5.8m) a year at Turin, the same amount as striker Dusan Vlahovic. Whether he stays at Stamford Bridge remains to be seen, but there is time before his contract expires.
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