The Barcelona transfer battles that could make or break Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea recruitment plan

Chelsea's summer tussle with Barcelona looks set to continue on two fronts as the pair battle for the signature of star wingers.

The Blues are yet to make any signings in the transfer window and have both defensive and attacking overhauls to complete if they are to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title next season. Their progress so far has been slow though, and they have fallen behind their rivals in recruitment.

To change this pattern, Thomas Tuchel has teamed up with Todd Boehly, acting as interim sporting director, and the duo are aligning their search to bring in new players. It's one of their longstanding targets that is providing the current hold up, however.

Whilst a deal to bring in Raheem Sterling from Manchester City looks to be edging closer, Tuchel's search for another winger has halted, despite significant steps having been made in the two camps. Firstly, Chelsea thought they had gained the advantage in their attempt to bring in explosive Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele to Stamford Bridge in January, when they first made contact with the player.

Those efforts have been delayed and the Frenchman is now an unregistered player, with Chelsea and Barcelona both trying desperately to convince him to sign their own contract. The rumours of how close Dembele, who played at Borussia Dortmund under Tuchel in 2016/17, is to signing a contract with both clubs has been a complicated process.

The situation has become clearer now though, after Barcelona president Joan Laporta issued an update on Dembele's status. He said: "Dembele is no longer a Barça player. We are in a situation of uncertainty. Right now, we still can’t sign [him]. We continue to discuss, and we are open, there is an