Transfer Talk: Chelsea line up trio of big-name signings after January blank

Chelsea are lining up big-money moves for Declan Rice, Jules Kounde and Aurelien Tchouameni this summer.

The Blues were one of the few Premier League clubs not to strengthen their first-team squad during the January window.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has reportedly been left frustrated by the lack of incomings at Stamford Bridge after seeing his side's title charge fall away in recent months.

But The Athletic claim they will make up for their January blank with a trio of high-profile additions in the summer in the form of Rice, Kounde and Tchouameni.

West Ham midfielder Rice has been a long-term target after developing into one of the Premier League’s best midfielders since leaving Chelsea’s Cobham academy as a youngster.

They will face competition to prize the 23-year-old back to West London however, with The Telegraph claiming that Manchester City and Manchester United are both ready to make a move for the England star.

Meanwhile, Sevilla defender Kounde was close to joining the Blues last summer but the deal collapsed after the Premier League outfit were unwilling to pay his £68million release clause.

Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta are all out of contract in the summer so Tuchel will be particularly keen to bolster his defensive ranks.

The third name high up Chelsea’s list of targets is French midfielder Tchouameni, whose reputation continues to grow in Ligue 1 with Monaco.

The 22-year-old has impressed for the France national team and has been previously named as a contender to improve Manchester United’s midfield conundrum.

In other news

The Athletic also say Manchester City "will do all they can" to convince Erling Haaland to sign for them this summer, despite the Norwegian favouring a move to Real Madrid.

City’s hopes of landing the 21-year-old striker could be handed a boost by Spanish outlet El Chiringuito’s claim that Real are fully focused on signing Kylian Mbappe instead.

Liverpool are confident of completing a pre-contract agreement to sign Fulham's Fabio Carvalho after missing out on the 19-year-old on deadline day, according to Sky Sports.

The Mirror report that Newcastle will go back in for Lille defender Sven Botman in the summer after failing to agree a deal for the Dutchman last month.

The Magpies will also target Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz at the end of the season, though they will face competition from Arsenal according to Corriere dello Sport.