Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel ‘to raid PSG for Presnel Kimpembe transfer to replace Rudiger and ease defensive crisis’
CHELSEA plan to raid Paris Saint-Germain for France defender Presnel Kimpembe, according to reports.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel managed the centre-back during his time as PSG coach.
And the German wants Kimpembe, 26, to replace Antonio Rudiger who is out of contract next summer and tipped to leave Stamford Bridge, according to .
Kimpembe has been with PSG since he was ten. He has helped them win 15 trophies, including four Ligue 1 titles.
He was part of France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad, and has been capped 25 times.
Rated at around £36million, he is under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2025.
It is suggested the Paris-born powerhouse is eager to try his luck abroad - with the Premier League top of his wish list.
And he is believed to be tempted by the chance to reunite with old boss Tuchel in West London.
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Kimpembe has made 20 PSG appearances this season, helping them go 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
However he is understood to be unhappy with their recent form, with the serial champions losing out on the title to Lille in May.
And a substantial Chelsea offer either in January or next summer could see him joining compatriots N'Golo Kante and Malang Sarr in Tuchel's squad.
On Monday, Tuchel called up TWELVE kids from the Academy and the Under-23s.
The Blues' squad has been decimated by injuries and Covid-related absences and the German turned to their youth ranks to make up the numbers.
Teddy Sharman-Lowe, 18, Josh Brooking, 19, Xavier Mbuyamba, 19, Alfie Gilchrist, 18, Dion Rankine, 19, and Xavier Simons, 18, all trained with the available first team squad players on Monday, according to Football London.
As, reportedly, did Lewis Baker, 26, Lewis Hall, 17, Joe Haigh, 18, Harvey Vale, 18, Bryan Fiabema, 18, and Jay Wareham, 18.
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Tuchel was fuming ahead of his side's 0-0 draw at Wolves on Sunday after the club's request to have the game postponed was rejected.
The Blues had SEVEN Covid cases in their squad, with more players testing positive since their 1-1 draw with Everton on Thursday.
But with Chelsea still just about able to name a full team, the Premier League turned down their request to call the game off - despite the obvious safety concerns.
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