Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has claimed that he had no contact with Barcelona contract rebel Ousmane Dembele after the Blues made an enquiry for him.
Speaking in a press conference, as quoted by Sky Sports, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has claimed that he made no contact with Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele during the January transfer window.
Dembele had been one of the most talked-about players in the winter window after he rejected a contract renewal offer from Barcelona. The 24-year-old winger is in the final six months of his deal and, as a result, was constantly linked with an exit as the Blaugrana sought to get him off the wage books.
There were strong links to Paris Saint-Germain while it also emerged that Premier League giants Chelsea also made an enquiry for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner late in the transfer window. However, a move failed to materialise, and Dembele ended up staying put at Camp Nou, where he will see out the remainder of the season before moving on in the summer.
The links to Chelsea made a lot of sense, considering that Dembele had worked with Tuchel during his one-year stint at Borussia Dortmund. The German tactician got the best out of the 24-year-old during the 2016/17 campaign, leading to the speculations of a reunion at Stamford Bridge.
❌ "I did not have contact with Ousmane."
? Thomas Tuchel reflects on Chelsea's January transfer window and links to Ousmane Dembele. pic.twitter.com/F97CkGzVzH
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 4, 2022
Tuchel was quizzed about Chelsea’s approach for the Barcelona forward in the recently-concluded window, and he claimed that there had been no talks to sign Dembele. “I did not have contact with Ousmane. There was no contact in winter,” the Blues head coach said.
Tuchel also added that he was happy with the quiet and calm transfer window, saying: “I’m very satisfied because it was a calm window, and to be calm is always the best thing.”
While a move in the winter might not have materialised, reports indicate that Tuchel and Chelsea are still interested in Dembele and will make an approach to sign him on a free transfer in the summer transfer window. However, they are likely to face competition from several clubs in pursuit of the French international, with Manchester United, PSG and Juventus also keen.
