Chelsea 'expected' to sign £68.5m star; Major Gabriel Jesus update for Arsenal

Welcome to Dean Jones’ weekly transfer column…

Chelsea are increasingly hopeful they will get the signature of Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele – and the transfer would be a show of faith in boss Thomas Tuchel.

As part of plans under the new ownership at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel’s voice on transfer targets is to become more important than before.

And signing Dembele, who has scored 32 goals for Barcelona, would help Todd Boehly convince Tuchel of how crucial he remains to the club.

He was set as a prime target and seen as a man who would add dynamism to the attack next term. Tuchel is a huge admirer of the player and had an eye on the signing even before Dembele returned to full fitness in March.

It has been a tough couple of years for Dembele, 25, who missed almost 60 matches due to issues around hamstring and knee injuries.

Yet he has been working his way back convincingly and with his contract expiring in Spain on June 30, looks set to seek a fresh start. Paris Saint-Germain were viewed as the main contenders to sign him if he leaves Barca yet their new sporting advisor Luis Campos seems to have other ideas.

The signing of Dembele would be a promising sign for Tuchel that he has control over the club’s direction in the post-Roman Abramovich era.

Chelsea have intent to overhaul the squad this summer, with €80m (£68.5m) release clause man Jules Kounde still expected to join in defence and others to follow.

Tuchel is working hard over the summer to negotiate the changes needed and will apply extra caution when deciding on the future of young players – with an eye on next season’s Premier League changes set to have a big impact on squad management.

A new rule allowing five substitutions means depth will take on extra