Frustrated Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea need ‘rebuilding’ as they play catch up

Thomas Tuchel has insisted he will oversee a summer of “rebuilding” at Chelsea as the club copes with the impact of the impending sale.

Tuchel and Chelsea are currently blocked from securing existing players on new deals and making new signings. That is due to the temporary UK Government licence they are working under after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned.

The Government imposed the sanctions on Abramovich and Chelsea on march 10 after claiming to have proven his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.

US businessman Todd Boehly is in talks over a £4.25bn deal to buy the club, but the Government have yet to rubberstamp the terms.

On the pitch, the club are set to lose Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid and Andreas Christensen to Barcelona on free transfers.

Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta could also follow to Barca, as Tuchel watches on helplessly. And Chelsea’s situation means their domestic and European rivals have stolen a march on the Blues.

But Tuchel will be staying, despite fanciful reports in March claiming the German would be interested in listening to Manchester United.

“You ask many times if we have a delay in approaching players and making plans; of course, a huge delay,” said Tuchel.

“We are affected by it, players are going out. We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. This is always challenging but we are up for the challenge.

“I don’t know where we are from day one. What I can promise is that I will be here – if I can promise that. I will be here with full energy and positive energy no matter what.

“We will still work for Chelsea and I refuse to think of negative scenarios. We will be competitive, on which level we will see.

“On how the delay and sanctions