Chelsea transfer rumours: Too much work for Tuchel to holiday

Wrapping up the Chelsea transfer news, rumours and gossip in the 2022 summer window.

Thomas Tuchel says he has no time to reward himself with a holiday after Chelsea's arduous campaign across six competitions as he believes the Blues must begin a "rebuild" of their squad this summer.

Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen will both leave Stamford Bridge on free transfers at their end of their contracts, while there are questions over a number of players' futures, including Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and N'Golo Kante.

Chelsea are waiting for Todd Boehly's takeover of the club to be finalised before they can once again operate in the transfer market, and Tuchel says the delay caused by the sanctions have left them playing catch up with their rivals.

"No, it's impossible to go on holiday. There's too many things to clarify," Tuchel said. "The disadvantage in terms of timing for the rebuild is big and we have to be fast and smart. It's a rebuild that is necessary for us and it makes things more challenging.

"We have clear ideas for the profiles and the characteristics of these players, but it's not like you put a name on the list and then you get the player. You have to convince the player, you have to speak to other clubs. So there's normally a lot of work to do."

Ivan Perisic - Tottenham, Chelsea and Juventus are interested in signing Perisic but Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi hopes the winger shuns transfer interest and stays on at Inter (Daily Mail, May 22).

Jules Kounde - Plans are in place to make Sevilla defender Kounde one of Chelsea's first signings once their takeover of the club is complete (Goal, May 19); Kounde was blocked from a move to Chelsea last summer but he remains their top defensive target ahead of