Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea transfer plans up in the air; refuses Erling Haaland ‘advice’

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he has no idea about his summer transfer budget as Manchester City announced they had agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund for Erling Haaland.

Haaland was a target for Chelsea and the Blues are understood to have made attempts to sign the Norway striker last summer. But Chelsea were effectively priced out of a move for the 21-year-old.

According to BILD, his agent Mino Raiola, who recently passed away, was demanding an agents’ fee of £34m. He also wanted £820,000-a-week as wages for Haaland, so Chelsea stepped away from the deal.

Now though City have agreed a deal of £51.1m – the striker’s release clause. And, according to Sky Sports the total deal, including agents’ fees and the signing-on fee, is around £85.5m.

Asked if Tuchel had any advice for Haaland in the Premier League, he said: “No advice. First of all, it’s not sure. No? And second of all, if he does not play for us I will not give any advice.”

Tuchel was also asked how important is was to get clarity moving forward ahead of the summer transfer window.

But the German boss made it clear that there were other things on the agenda before he could think about summer recruitment.

“In the moment not. It’s a positive sign and it feels like it will come to an end and give us possibilities to act but at this very moment it is not like this,” said Tuchel.

The Blues boss also said he had no idea what budget he will have to spend in the summer and does not have a meeting planned with Todd Boehly.

“Absolutely not. Maybe if I had (information on money for the summer) I would not tell you! But I do not have so I don’t need to lie,” said Tuchel.

The Blues boss has yet to meet Boehly, who looks set to be Chelsea’s controlling owner. The US