5pm: Blues to bring in two more players before deadline, as Tuchel confirms double injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash
Having just acquired Romelu Lukaku to bolster their front line, Chelsea will go out against Arsenal with all guns blazing, and if the Blues hit anything close to top gear, the Gunners could find it’ll be a long afternoon.
Whether or not the reigning European champions make it six points from six at the start of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign will be something of an irrelevance where their transfer business is concerned.
That’s because it appears that Thomas Tuchel is still unhappy with the make up of his squad and wants to get in two more players before the deadline passes.
According to Fabrizio Romano, cited by the Daily Express, one of those players could be Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez.
No decision has been reached on the midfielder as yet, but the report states that the Blues will make up their minds one way or the other ‘in the next few days.’
Another La Liga star that could also be on their way to Stamford Bridge according to Romano (cited by the Daily Express), with Tuchel’s long-standing interest in Sevilla’s Jules Kounde still live.
Developments in both deals are awaited.
Tuchel confirms double injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash
Chelsea could welcome back Hakim Ziyech and N’Golo Kante against Arsenal on Sunday, Thomas Tuchel has revealed.
The pair were absent during Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Ziyech was forced off in the first-half of the UEFA Super Cup triumph with a shoulder problem, while Kante picked up a problem also which left them out of the side last weekend.
But the duo could be ready to return to face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon which provides Tuchel with a welcome boost as they look to make it two wins from two at the start of the season.
Tuchel offered an update in his pre-match press conference on Friday and says a decision will be made on Saturday after the final training session, but the signs looks positive.
Tuchel said: “Hakim and N’Golo are in training and did everything until yesterday to be in training today, and had no problems,” said Tuchel.
“We need another more physical and intense training session with them and the team to decide after the training session at 11. It seems very positive that both can be in the squad for Sunday.”