With Ousmane Dembele reportedly rejecting a renewal at Barcelona, various European giants are expected to flock in, seeking a Bosman move for the talented forward.
Paris Saint-Germain have been closely linked with a move for the Frenchman, although they could potentially abandon the pursuit as new sporting director Luis Campos is not a huge fan of the attacker.
It has put Chelsea on red alert, with the Premier League giants not ruling out the possibility of signing the Barcelona superstar on a free transfer this summer, reports The Athletic.
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel has an excellent relationship with Dembele. The two had worked together during their time at Borussia Dortmund, with the player enjoying immense success and playing his best football under the leadership of the German tactician.
Tuchel believes he can help Dembele once again rekindle his old form at Chelsea. With the attacker also available for a free transfer, the Frenchman is seemingly becoming an appealing target for the Blues.
Aside from Dembele, The Athletic claim Chelsea are also keeping tabs on another Barcelona star, in the form of Sergino Dest.
The Blues, after all, are bracing themselves for a mass exodus in the defensive unit this summer. Their defensive lynchpin Cesar Azpilicueta, in particular, has been linked with a move to Barcelona while Andreas Christensen has already signed a deal with the Catalans.
Azpilicueta’s potential exit could leave a massive void in the defensive unit, especially on the right hand side of the backline. As things stand, Chelsea have Reece James as the only recognised player at right-back.
Tuchel is looking to resolve this issue by bringing in Sergino Dest. The German is aware of the precarious situation of the American international, who has faced criticism for his failure to live up to the expectations at Camp Nou.
Dest has already been offered as a makeweight in various deals for Barcelona’s top targets and given the business between the two clubs this summer, it will not come as a surprise to see the former Ajax starlet donning the Blue kit next season.
