Report: Tuchel tells Chelsea to hold on to 22-year-old academy graduate ‘at any cost’ this summer

Transfer News: Thomas Tuchel wants to keep Trevoh Chalobah at Chelsea despite loan links

According to a report by Goal (h/t Metro), Thomas Tuchel wants Chelsea to keep Trevoh Chalobah this summer ‘at any cost’.

Chalobah has featured for Chelsea during this pre-season and the defensive midfielder has excelled in a back three. Tuchel is understandably impressed by the 22-year-old Englishman.

Speaking after Chelsea’s pre-season draw with Tottenham Hotspur last week, he praised the youngster for his performances. Chalobah spent the last season out on loan at FC Lorient.

“We know him from Lorient and Chalo has done very well in pre-season… He’s done very well in both games and within his potential and limits that was nice to see. He played a good match, I agree.”

Tuchel wants Chalobah stay

The report goes on to mention that the Blues are looking to offload him this summer, with Valencia interested in a transfer move. But Tuchel plans on keeping him at Chelsea and can even hand him first-team football this season.

It’s hard to see where the Freetown-born enforcer would fit in Chelsea’s first team. The midfield is packed with N’Golo Kante and Jorginho excelling in the centre of the park.

And the defence, where Chalobah was used during pre-season, has a plethora of centre-backs including Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma, Ethan Ampadu, and even Matt Miazga.

More Chelsea News:

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However, he can get some game-time during cup matches. But if he is not going to see decent first-team action this season, it would be beneficial to send him out on a loan for some vital experience.