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After securing their first Champions League title since their maiden triumph in 2012, Chelsea are aiming to challenge on the domestic front by putting up a sustained bid for the Premier League title next season.
Chelsea in the market for a centre-back
The future of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen is not yet certain, while players like Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi have left on permanent deals to AC Milan and Crystal Palace, respectively.
That has forced the Blues to look into the market. It has been reported that the West London team are eyeing a move for a top centre-back this summer as Blues boss Thomas Tuchel looks to bolster his backline ahead of the new season.
Here, we take a look at the five realistic centre-back targets Chelsea could acquire this summer:
#5 Maxence Lacroix (VfL Wolfsburg)
Maxence Lacroix is one of the most attractive young prospects across Europe after enjoying a breakthrough campaign at VfL Wolfsburg last season, making 36 appearances across competitions.
The 21-year-old is gaining a reputation as one of the Bundesliga's finest centre-backs. He was a key part of Wolfsburg's impressive 2020-21 campaign, which saw them finish fourth. Lacroix was colossal for Wolfsburg in defence, winning 47 tackles and 61 aerial duels throughout the season. They had the second-best defensive record in the entire division, with only second-placed RB Leipzig conceding fewer than Wolfsburg's 37 league goals.
According to Football London, Thomas Tuchel is a big fan of the youngster and is keen to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Lacroix's ability to spread the ball to wide players bodes well for Chelsea's wing-back system. But the youngster needs to get more used to passing the ball to a no. 6 or no. 8, as they are a vital part of Chelsea's attacking build-up.
Nevertheless, for a fee of just €30 million, Maxence Lacroix could be a potential bargain for Chelsea this summer, especially if Tuchel can use his qualities well to suit his system.
#4 Pau Torres (Villarreal CF)
Another centre-back Chelsea could target this summer is Villarreal's highly admired centre-back Pau Torres.
Torres had an excellent campaign with Villarreal, helping them win the Europa League by beating Manchester United in the final. He also played a key role in Spain's run to the Euro 2020 semi-final.
The player has made 87 appearances for the Yellow Submarine to date, chipping in with five goals and four assists. His incredible growth has captured the attention of many clubs in Europe, with Chelsea showing interest in the 24-year-old.
Torres is noted for his speed, which could make him an even more appealing target for Chelsea. That's because he has the pace to cover in behind if the Blues play with a back three, as well as his ability to carry the ball out of defence.
Villarreal would probably battle hard to keep hold of the talented centre-back, who has a deal with the La Liga club till 2024. But with many big clubs looking for Pau Torres' signature, they might struggle to keep hold of the player for too long.
#3 Niklas Sule (FC Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule is a potential target for Chelsea. He has just one year left on his contract with Bayern, which could convince the Bavarians to cash in on him this summer.
Sule would be an ideal signing for Chelsea, considering Tuchel's style of play. In terms of starting attacks from the back, Sule fits the bill, thanks to his pass success rate of 90.7%, the third-best in the Bundesliga last season.
Sule is also a great tackler of the ball, averaging 1.9 tackles per 90 in the Bundesliga last season and is dribbled past just 0.4 times per 90, returning a solid tackle success rate of 81.6%.
Even if an opponent manages to dribble past him, Sule has the pace to ensure it that doesn't result in a shot at goal. Sule is also an intelligent reader of the game, averaging 1.3 interceptions per 90, and his positional awareness is another key reason for Chelsea's interest in the 25-year-old.
The only issue with Sule is his fitness. He has started more than 20 league games for Bayern Munich just once since his arrival in 2017. It has been a cause of concern for the club, which is why a potential summer exit is on the cards for the defender.
Nevertheless, Sule could provide a suitable foundation to build Chelsea's defence upon. And with his reportedly great rapport with Tuchel, the defender seems a good fit for Chelsea.
#2 Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mochengladbach)
Chelsea are also said to be keeping tabs on another German international, Matthias Ginter.
The Borussia Monchengladbach defender was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer before Chelsea signed Thiago Silva from PSG. But since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, Ginter's former manager at Borussia Dortmund, the rumours regarding Ginter have popped up again.
The 27-year-old is considered to be one of the best centre-backs in the Bundesliga. He was named Germany's Player of the Year in 2019, beating the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.
Ginter has the experience of playing in a back three, a back four and even at right-back. His versatility could prove to be a huge asset for Thomas Tuchel's side as he would provide considerable depth at the back.
With Ginter's contract expiring in 2022 and Borussia Monchengladbach failing to qualify for any European competition, the defender could be on the move this summer. Chelsea should look to capitalise on the same.
#1 Jules Kounde (Sevilla FC)
Jules Kounde is widely regarded as one of Europe's most promising defenders since bursting onto the scene with Bordeaux during the 2017-18 campaign.
The Frenchman came through the ranks at Bordeaux before joining Sevilla in 2019 for a reported fee of around €25 million. The 22-year-old has impressed for Sevilla since his move, making 88 appearances across competitions.
Kounde was also part of the Sevilla side that won the Europa League in 2019-20 and has helped them achieve back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the La Liga.
The youngster is now reportedly looking to move on and is already attracting interest from a host of top European clubs. He has rejected an offer from Tottenham Hotspur, as he wants to move to a team that can offer him Champions League football and realistically challenge for domestic trophies.
As such, Chelsea will have an advantage over their London rivals in securing the players signature. But it remains to be seen whether Thomas Tuchel's team submits an offer for Kounde, with several reports suggesting that they are likely to do so.
