Chelsea prepping £30m transfer U-turn to give Tuchel embarrassment of riches

Chelsea could go against the grain and sanction a £30m transfer that would’ve been unthinkable just a few short months ago, per a report.

Thomas Tuchel already has plenty to choose from in his engine room. The Blues have Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in reserve, with two from Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic most often selected.

Furthermore, Tuchel will be bolstered by the returns of Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher next season. Gallagher in particular could make an immediate impact if his remarkable loan spell at Crystal Palace is anything to go by.

That leaves Saul Niguez as the odd man out, with the Spaniard not yet making the impression he would’ve liked.

The 27-year-old was signed from Atletico Madrid on loan last summer. Saul struggled early and saw his opportunities limited as a result. However, his more recent displays have improved, most notably in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg versus Tottenham.

As such, the Daily Star carry quotes from Saul who explained why he took time to adapt to Premier League football.

What’s more, the outlet state Chelsea have been prompted into a ‘rethink’ regarding triggering his £30m buy option. Just a few months ago, activating that clause would’ve been out of the question.

“In my first match, I was a bit disorientated because I was used to doing things differently and it was a bit strange for me,” said Saul – who is in line to start in the FA Cup versus Plymouth Argyle this weekend.

“The truth is it hasn’t been easy but I’m very grateful to my team-mates and the club for making it easier for me to adapt. After training, the Spanish ones can translate for me.

“But that can also be difficult in the moment if I don’t understand the phrases such as ‘man on’ or ‘time’