Todd Boehly causes major shift in Chelsea Matthijs de Ligt pursuit as £43million transfer considered |

Chelsea’s new defence next season is to be shaped in the way Thomas Tuchel believes will be the best way to cope without Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly could jeopardise the Blues’ pursuit of Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt if they were to bid £43m for a certain Thomas Tuchel favourite.

The Blues’ defensive re-shuffle is really starting to take some shape. The Telegraph have reported that the current world champions have made progress in negotiations for the Juventus’ No 4 as a cash-plus-player swap deal remains on the table. £60million plus one of either Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner or Jorginho is likely to be enough to close this transfer for a player who is a dream target of Tuchel, who initially looked like getting Jules Kounde handed his way by the club before Marina Granovskaia left the club.

Although the Sevilla defender could still be signed this summer, alternatives are certainly being considered with the German keen on Man City’s Nathan Ake. The Citizens though are wanting to secure a replacement and a healthy windfall from the sale of the former Bournemouth defender before they give this one the go-ahead alongside the Raheem Sterling move which is reportedly a ‘done deal.’

Whether both de Ligt and Ake will be signed together this summer is a distinct possibility but it’s also realistic to believe that there could be problems down the line in negotiations for both, in spite of the positive start to these talks with each player.

New owner Todd Boehly could even inflict some of this damage onto himself as it’s understood that with only a £43million asking price attached to his back, as per French Journalist Santi Aouna.

Kimpembe has always been admired by Tuchel from their time together in the French capital and Simon Phillips believes that alongside Gianluca Scamacca, this is certainly a situation to watch out for.

‘There are a few centre-backs the club have shortlisted as the look to replace Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen – which includes Jose Gimenez, Pau Torres and Presnel Kimpembe – while Borna Sosa is a potential option at left wing-back if Marcos Alonso and Emerson move on,’ Chelsea’s chief correspondent for football.london Adam Newson said in a recent Q&A.

“As for an alternative left centre-back, someone to keep in mind is Presnel Kimpembe, who is a Tuchel pick having worked with the France international at PSG. Whether the Ligue 1 champions would sell is another matter.”

How could a move for PSG’s No 3 interfere with the De Ligt deal?

Well, Juventus are said to be eying Kimpembe up alongside Kalidou Koulibaly and a few others as the Old Lady prepare for life without a player they saw as their natural Giorgio Chiellini heir.

Kimpembe moving to London would take that option off the table for Juve which means if a replacement weren’t to be found for the want-away 22-year-old, the chances of him being let free reduce at the same time.