Chelsea could set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos, with Thomas Tuchel eyeing a potential reunion at Stamford Bridge.
According to Sunday World, Chelsea’s preparations for the next season have already begun, as Roman Abramovich has garnered a lot of trust in Thomas Tuchel since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. The German tactician has ushered in a lot of sporting success in a short span of time and could play a critical role in the club’s transfer plans in the summer.
One of the players targeted by Tuchel is former defensive protege Marquinhos, who had worked together with the Chelsea manager during their time at Paris Saint-Germain. Tuchel had even installed the Brazilian as PSG’s new captain, following Thiago Silva’s move to Stamford Bridge last summer.
The ageing Brazilian defender now works under Tuchel again at Stamford Bridge, although he has not been involved in much due to his injury problems. His advancing age, nonetheless, creates the need to bolster Chelsea’s defensive unit, especially with Cesar Azpilicueta nearing the final phase of his career as well.
Tuchel, as a result, has set his sights on a world class defender in Marquinhos. The 26-year-old has already impressed in his new role as the PSG captain, notably playing a key role in their Champions League run, although his influence was not enough to help his team overcome the challenge of Manchester City.
At Chelsea, Marquinhos can not only have the opportunity to compete with Manchester City more often but also emerge as the face of the club’s defensive unit, alongside Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. His leadership at the back, coupled with aerial superiority are tailor-made assets for the physically astute nature of the Premier League.
Aside from that, the Brazilian international also has a vast amount of experience at the highest level of football, having made 318 competitive appearances for PSG. He has won 47 caps for his country as well, making him a solid option for Chelsea boss Tuchel.
The Blues are not expected to face any financial difficulties either in the pursuit of Marquinhos. However, it remains unlikely that PSG would want to part ways with their best defender this summer, especially with the player already having a contract until 2024.
Chelsea do have a host of alternatives available, though, and have even been linked with a move for Raphael Varane while they are also a strong contender for star players in other positions, including Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.
Overall, it promises to be an exciting summer for the Chelsea fans, made even more delightful by the club’s recent success against Real Madrid in the semi-final in the UEFA Champions League. They are now set to face Manchester City in the all-English final later this month.