Chelsea will require defensive and attacking reinforcement this summer following the departures of trio Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Romelu Lukaku.
Defensive duo Christensen and Rudiger left Stamford Bridge on free transfers, while Lukaku rejoined Inter Milan on a loan deal one year after he completed a record £97.5m to Chelsea in a move that eclipsed the Blues’ previous record purchase of Kai Havertz.
And there are reports that Spanish duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso may also leave the club this summer, just as Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner are rumoured to be on their way out, which could leave Thomas Tuchel out of quality options in attack as well.
Christensen and Rudiger’s departures could take years to mend the damage their absence will cause the Blues backline. As much as the club fans would have liked for Rudiger to stay, they have to face reality that the German is now a Real Madrid player.
Since the summer transfer window reopened on July 1, the Blues have a number of centre-backs in their sights, including Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
Some could likely head to Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes, while Tuchel may even need to add more than one to his ranks – but can Tuchel’s side cope without the defensive duo?
Speaking with Sports Extra, ace sports broadcaster, Bimbo Adeola, an ardent fan of Chelsea, believes that only Rudiger will be sorely missed and not Christensen and Lukaku.
