SUNBATHING? NO , TUCHEL IS PLANNING FOR A SUMMER SPENDING SPREE

As Boehly takes over, holidays are cancelled asbluesboss scrambles to keep pace with his rivals

THERE will be no sun cream or lounging by the pool for Thomas Tuchel this summer.

Instead, Chelsea’s boss will be joining the scramble for players as a Premier League title arms race begins in earnest ahead of next season.

The Champions Leaguewinning coach has had to sit and suffer this season as Manchester City and Liverpool’s superior squad depth left the Blues trailing.

Now that Todd Boelhy (left) has pretty much been given the green light from the Government and the Premier League to assume control from Roman Abramovich (above, far right), Tuchel intends to change all that.

His top-four rivals are planning a summer spree.

Antonio Conte is expected to have as much as £250million to spend once his deadwood is offloaded at Tottenham.

Erik ten Hag at Manchester United could have even more for his major surgery.

So Tuchel (above), aided by the Blues’ chief negotiator, Marina Granovskaia, has to get to work.

The German already knows the players he wants – he explained as much after last Sunday’s season-finale home win over Watford.

In his favour, too, is the fact Boelhy has empowered him to do things his way – just as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have done and just as Conte will do at Spurs.

Big businessmen often have the confidence to allow talented operators to do what they do best.

Only formalities remain before sanctions are lifted this week and Chelsea can start on a new blueprint ahead of next season.

Tuchel has already scrapped his plans for a summer holiday, despite the shorter than usual close season ahead of the Qatar World Cup.

There are players to buy. Holes in his backline to fill with Antonio Rudiger off to Real Madrid, Cesar Azpilicueta heading to Barcelona with Andreas Christensen and the possibility of Marcos Alonso joining them.

Doubts persist over the futures of Jorginho and N’golo Kante – with one year left on their contracts – and Declan Rice among the options for a long-term successor.

Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech all want to play more regularly, as does Romelu Lukaku. But a

new home must surely be found for the misfiring Belgian striker after a disappointing season.

And then there are clubs to fend off. Barcelona are very keen on England midfielder Mason Mount. No wonder there are plans to hand the 23-year-old a lucrative new contract to smash his current £80,000-a-week wage.

So you can understand why Tuchel does not want a break. Every day counts.

Sevilla’s French centre-half Jules Kounde is a long-time target, but Spurs could now offer him Champions League football and an elite coach in Conte to work with.

Manchester United are rivalling Chelsea’s admiration for Villarreal central defender Pau Torres. Napoli’s soughtafter Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen is on record as admitting he would love to emulate Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.

A potentially big move for Raheem Sterling has been mooted with no new deal on the horizon for him at Manchester City and just a year left on his contract.

And most fascinatingly of all, is Neymar’s relationship with former boss Tuchel.

The Brazilian superstar, 30, made respectful comments about him back in 2019 but now it seems Paris Saintgermain are willing to let him leave this summer for the right price.

Neymar has been a bit-part player alongside Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi this season with just 13 goals in 28 games.

But Tuchel is just waiting for the green light to go out and recruit. Lying in the sun can wait for another day, there’s work to do.