Chelsea are closing in on the signings of two central defenders as they look to finalise the first additions of the Todd Boehly era, according to reports.
As per The Evening Standard via The Independent, the Blues are close to agreeing deals for both Nathan Ake and Matthijs de Ligt, as Thomas Tuchel looks to bolster his squad ahead of the upcoming season.
Tuchel lost both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen at the end of the season, but the two Dutch internationals could replace the duo.
The report claims that talks over a deal for Ake are ‘more advanced’ than those for his Netherlands teammate, but both players could conceivably be joining the club in the coming days or weeks.
German champions Bayern Munich are still hopeful of hijacking the deal for De Ligt, 22, although it is believed that the Bundesliga side cannot match Chelsea’s financial might.
The German side will instead focus on trying to persuade the player to choose them over a move to London.
It is claimed that Chelsea are hopeful of completing a deal for one of the two defenders, most likely Ake, this week.
Chelsea and Leicester City are currently the only two Premier League clubs that are yet to have signed a single player during the current transfer window.
Ake, a former Chelsea academy star, could be joined at Stamford Bridge by current City teammate Raheem Sterling, who is the subject of advanced talks between the two clubs.