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Trevoh Chalobah form might alter Chelsea’s transfer plans amid Jules Kounde links
Thomas Tuchel claims Trevoh Chalobah’s rapid rise could change Chelsea’s transfer plans in January and next summer.
The versatile defender has signed a deal until 2026 after impressing this season and has been tipped to become a key figure in the future.
He has made 10 appearances already this term after Tuchel initially planned to send him out on loan.
The Chelsea manager had hoped to secure the signing of Jules Kounde from Sevilla. And despite missing out on the centre-back, the European champions planned to renew their interest in January or at the end of the season.
Now Tuchel has raised doubts about that, with Chalobah’s form a potential factor.
The German said: “I think every transfer period you need to evaluate again because you cannot say what we wanted in the summer we do in the winter or the next summer. It is not like this.
“Your opinion changes, players change, you have evolvement in the group. You have atmosphere that you build, you see who is absolutely reliable and these connections build up and create something special, hopefully, in the group.
“So you cannot say what we tried in the summer did not happen so we will try again for sure in the winter. Sometimes it is like this if we see the same need, but clearly Trevoh is now here with us and he deserves to be here with us. It had nothing to do with if we can sign another central defender or not.
“But he stepped up. The responsibility was even more on his shoulders and he can handle it so far in a very impressive way. This is the situation and it has an effect on our next decisions in the next transfer period. It is always like this.”
Defence remains an area in flux for Chelsea with Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen all out of contract at the end of the season.
The club are in talks with both Rudiger and Christensen over new deals, but with Silva aged 37, Chelsea will be looking for a longer-term solution, with Kounde identified as the leading target.
Meanwhile, Tuchel has cast doubts over his ability to match the longevity of Sean Dyche, Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola at Chelsea, despite insisting he wants to stay as long as possible.
Dyche is celebrating 10 years at Burnley, while Klopp has been at Liverpool for six. Guardiola has been in charge of Manchester City for five years.
Tuchel said: “I had one year in the academy and five years in Mainz – my longest spell so far in professional football. Then I had the strong feeling in the last year that my energy was not on the highest level any more and that we had built connections to the players and decisions had to be made – that some enthusiasm is lacking if we continued and continued.
“We took at this point – not for everybody – the understandable decision to inform the club that this would be the last half-season because I felt I would lack some percentage of energy that is absolutely necessary to be at the very top.
“Quality and results are the most important, otherwise we have no chance to stay. If you have that and if you feel happy and if the club and manager build a trust, like there is at Liverpool, Manchester City and of course at Burnley, it can be a successful story.
“It can be the other way around – that you change a lot of managers and you are also successful. The proof is maybe this club here. No hard feelings for both approaches.
“I can tell you today I will do my very best to stay as long as possible because I like where I am and I enjoy working every single day in this club and in this league.
“For me it is a perfect fit. From here we go but it’s a weekly business, maybe it’s a daily business, and I am fully aware of it.”
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