Tuchel warned of Serie A transfers

PLAYERS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ACCLIMATISE, SAYS MIKEL

THOMAS Tuchel has been warned by former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel of the risks that come with signing players from Serie A.

The Blues have been heavily linked with several defenders from Italy this summer amid the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

Speaking on Nigerian radio network NaijaFM 102.7, Mikel outlined why Romelu Lukaku struggled to acclimatise to the Premier League upon his return to Stamford Bridge.

The 35-year-old spoke of the challenges that players face when adapting to the physical demands of English football.

With Chelsea linked with a handful of Serie A’s leading centrebacks, Mikel’s admission could prove costly.

The former Blues midfielder said: “The league is totally different. The English league is too powerful, too strong, too fast, whereas the Italian league is too slow.

“In the English league, there is too much quality – and, I’m not going to say too much but the pace of English football is way too much for Italian league.

“With the Italian league, you can play until you are 40-years-old.”

As quoted by Football Italia, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport report that the west Londoners have sent Kalidou Koulibaly a contract offer. The report claims that Chelsea’s offer stands at £8.5 million a year.

However, the Blues, who are said to face competition from Barcelona, are still yet to have agreed a deal with Napoli, who value the 30-year-old centre-half at €40million (£34.1m).

Meanwhile, Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar has also been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, though amid competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, PSG have already submitted a £42.7m bid for the defender, which was swiftly rejected.

Chelsea are yet to have tabled an official offer of their own.

It is said that PSG have essentially tested the waters for Tuchel, with Inter revealing Skriniar’s asking price.

The Italian giants will reportedly demand at least £59.8m for the defender’s signature.

Matthijs de Ligt has wandered onto Chelsea’s radar lately, with the Blues reigniting interest in the Netherlands international, according to Calciomercato.

In January, the west Londoners were ‘willing to go crazy’ in their efforts to sign the £60m-rated Juventus defender, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

With Rudiger and Christensen not at Stamford Bridge next season, Tuchel is plotting a rebuild of his backline this summer.

Speaking to football.london, the Blues boss said: “We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. We are rebuilding. This is always challenging, but we are up for the challenge.

“I don’t know where we are from day one. What I can promise is that I will be here – if I can promise that – I will be here with full energy and positive energy no matter what.

“We will still work for Chelsea, and I refuse to think of negative scenarios.

“We will be competitive, on which level we will see.”

Football.london understand that Jules Kounde is the west London club’s priority following the takeover.

The Sevilla defender is keen on moving to the Blues, almost 12 months after his proposed switch to Stamford Bridge collapsed at the final hurdle.

There is a growing expectation that Chelsea will get the Kounde deal over the line this time around.

However, Marca claim that the Spanish giants are holding out for no less than £55.6m, despite the Blues’ £42.8m offer.

MICAH CROOK/PPAUK Thomas Tuchel has been looking to Italy for new recruits