Thomas Tuchel is reportedly eyeing a reunion with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye as he looks to reinforce Chelsea’s midfield unit.
According to Eurosport, as relayed by Le10Sport, a shock return to the Premier League could be on the horizon for Idrissa Gueye. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who joined the French club in 2019 is now being linked with a move to Chelsea, with the newly-appointed Thomas Tuchel reportedly keen on his services.
Gueye is one of three PSG stars who are being targeted by Tuchel as he aims to surround himself with players he is familiar with after replacing Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge earlier this week. It is believed that the midfielder is held at high esteem by the German coach and a return to England could be on the cards, with a move to Chelsea.
Tuchel, in fact, had played a key role in convincing PSG to sign the Senegalese international from Everton back in 2019. The player ended up making 52 competitive appearances under the former Borussia Dortmund coach, though he never really became an indispensable figure in the PSG midfield.
Nevertheless, it appears Tuchel still values the 31-year-old’s experience in the Premier League, combined with his usual qualities as a midfielder. Indeed, Gueye had made 131 appearances in the English top-flight during his time at Everton and Aston Villa. He was even one of the league’s most solid defensive midfielders due to his ability to read the game and distribute possession.
Those qualities would make Gueye an ideal asset in Tuchel’s positional play that revolves around the rotation of the ball. It requires the players, particularly the midfielders, to be proactive and deal with any opposition counter-attacks. In addition, the 31-year-old’s physically astute nature should be useful for Chelsea in the Premier League.
From a sporting perspective, Gueye could be an upgrade over Jorginho. His more direct and physical approach should add another dimension to a Chelsea midfield unit that already boasts the services of talented players like N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Billy Gilmour.
As far as the market is concerned, the Senegalese international could be a cut-price alternative for top target Declan Rice, who is expected to cost a fortune. However, unlike the West Ham midfielder, he will only be a short-term investment as the player is already in the final stage of his career.
