Tuchel ‘makes phone call’ to lure PSG star to Chelsea after Koulibaly promise
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has reportedly been in touch with Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe to ‘present the project’ in an attempt to lure him to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are working to secure a couple of centre-back signings this summer following the departures of both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen at the end of their contracts.
READ MORE: Sterling, Koulibaly a welcome transfer move from Boyz II Men for Tuchel at Chelsea
Reports claim Chelsea have reached a ‘full agreement’ with Kalidou Koulibaly over a move to west London having had a €40m bid accepted by Napoli.
It’s also been claimed they’ve agreed a £45m fee with Manchester City for Nathan Ake, but Footmercato claim Tuchel hasn’t given up hope of signing Kimpembe.
The German boss, who worked with Kimpembe towards the end of his time as PSG boss, is said to have spoken ‘for several minutes’ on the phone with the 26-year-old, to ‘present the project to him and the details of what he wanted to put in place with him’.
While the report states that Kimpembe is happy in the French capital, if he is to leav the club, he would ‘prioritise a departure to England’.
There have been contacts between the two clubs and with the French international’s representatives, and PSG are reportedly ‘not closed to a departure for Kimpembe’.
It’s also claimed that in his conversations to persuade Koulibaly to join the club, Tuchel explained that the Senegal international would play alongside Thiago Silva and/or Kimpembe in the heart of the Chelsea defence.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand thinks Rahem Sterling is a “steal” for Chelsea as he is a “havoc-causer” in the Premier League:
“Questioned by Liverpool fans, ridiculed by Liverpool fans when he made that move. Other sections of the football community questioned whether he was good enough, shouldn’t be held in that esteem, shouldn’t be held in that class,” Ferdinand said.
“The kid does it everywhere, he does it in the Champions League, the Premier League. And Chelsea, by the way, what a steal.
“The market and they’ve gone and got him… wow. So the new owners at Chelsea have come in, it’s a fantastic deal on their part, listen they’ve got a ready-made Premier League goal-getter, havoc-causer in the league, simple as that. If he can replicate the form at Man City in a Chelsea shirt… wow. Listen, the Chelsea boys in England they know what they’re getting they know what’s coming through that door.
“They’re not idiots, they know, they’ve done unbelievably well to get him, I just can’t believe other teams he could’ve gone to, he maybe could of but he wanted to go to London.
“But Raheem Sterling, even though you were on the other side of Manchester, I have to salute the way you carried yourself and the way you continue to do so because I know you will. So listen, good luck man and don’t be too successful because I want my boys to come back but I hope you have a good spell there alright, take care.”