Chelsea are keen on bolstering their ranks with new players, and the Blues are plotting a summer swoop for Romelu Lukaku, Achraf Hakimi and Declan Rice.
Chelsea were crowned champions of Europe after Kai Havertz strike downed Manchester City in Porto on Saturday, but Thomas Tuchel’s side still finished the Premier League 19 points behind champions City.
However, Tuchel is looking to improve his side in order to challenge at the top of the table next season.
According to the Athletic, the club are looking to do that with two or three signings and Lukaku, Hakimi and Rice are their three top targets in positions they’re looking to improve.
A striker is the club’s top priority, despite spending big on attacking players Havertz and Timo Werner last summer, with neither’s best position as a number nine.
Chelsea have been keeping tabs on Norwegian Erling Haaland but it looks like the Borussia Dortmund striker is going to stay with the club, after qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
That has made a move to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge their priority, having failed to do so when the Belgian moved to Manchester United in 2017.
Lukaku is happy at Inter Milan, having been integral to their first Serie A title in 11 years, but the club has to sell because of their financial problems.
Hakimi’s position at Inter is in similar jeopardy because of the financial problems, just a year after he joined the Nerazzurri for €40 million.
The report says that the player has been discussed ‘extensively’ with the club’s hierarchy but they do face competition from PSG, who are also chasing the player.
In defence Niklas Sule, Maxence Lacroix, Pau Torres and Jules Kounde are all named as potential targets as well.
