Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel remains eager to renew acquaintances with Trevoh Chalobah at Bayern Munich despite seeing an initial loan bid rejected.
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea will not stand in the way of their reunion, but not without pocketing at least £50 million from Chalobah’s possible departure.
The Blues are well stocked in the defensive department – although some players are currently in the treatment room nursing injuries ranging from an anterior cruciate ligament to a hamstring problem.
Chalobah is one of those sidelined with an injury, and he is yet to make his competitive debut in the Mauricio Pochettino era.
However, a summer exit could be on the cards with the Blues reportedly open to doing business and Bayern determined to bolster their defensive ranks before the transfer window closes.
The German champions are on the cusp of losing Benjamin Pavard to Inter Milan, but Tuchel is reluctant to sanction that departure until a replacement is found.
With just one year left on Pavard’s deal at the Allianz Arena, Bayern are in a race against Friday’s transfer deadline to find a replacement or risk losing the Frenchman for nothing next year.
Chalobah is one of several names on their extensive shortlist, but negotiating with Chelsea will be tricky as they are only interested in a permanent sale for their homegrown star.
The Blues are also entertaining interest in Marc Cucurella, who has been deemed surplus to requirements, with Pochettino favouring Ian Maatsen over the Spaniard.
Manchester United have emerged as a possible destination for the former Brighton & Hove Albion man, with Erik ten Hag keen to sign a specialised left-back this week.
The Red Devils will be without Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, and despite putting in a good shift last weekend, Diogo Dalot is not seen as the man to take the reins at left back moving forward.
A season-long loan deal for Cucurella has been mooted, and while Chelsea are open to the idea, they will require Man United to pay a loan fee and cover the player’s wages for the duration of the temporary switch.