€30m Chelsea defensive target gives Tuchel the brush off
A Chelsea defensive target has publicly given Thomas Tuchel the brush off and says “there is absolutely no reason to think about” a summer move to the Premier League.
Maxence Lacroix cropped up this week as a centre-back on Tuchel’s radar. The German coach is understood to be looking for a central defender this summer and the Wolfsburg man was mentioned. Sky Sport reported that Lacroix had turned down two contract extension offers from Wolfsburg.
That was not confirmed by the club and Wolfsburg boss Jorg Schmadtke refused to address the subject last week.
“The only thing I can say on the matter is that the player still has a long contract with us,” Schmadtke told Sportbuzzer.
That deal will run until 2024, so Wolfsburg are in a strong position. They are in no desperate rush to sell the highly-rated centre-back, but a fee of €30m will be enough to land him, per the source.
But now, despite Chelsea’s approach to Lacroix’s agent, as reported by Sky’s Max Bielefield, the player is not so keen on a move.
He told SportBuzzer, via Sport Witness: “I see [the rumours], but I refer those matters to my advisor because I want to concentrate on my work here at Wolfsburg and want to do a good job here. I’m with VfL and qualified for the Champions League with the club. I’m very happy here.
“I still have a three-year contract here and am very satisfied. Sure, things can always happen quickly in football, but again: I feel very comfortable at VfL and there is absolutely no reason to think about other things.”
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Pjanic loan talk
Meanwhile, Chelsea have reportedly stepped up their bid to land Barcelona midfield outcast Miralem Pjanic in a loan deal ahead of PSG this summer.
The 31-year-old has endured a miserable debut campaign at the Nou Camp, having joined the Catalan giants in a whopping £60million transfer last summer, with Arthur Melo heading in the opposite direction to Juventus for £75m.
But after just 11 months at Barca, Pjanic could now be heading for the Nou Camp exit door.
According to French news outlet Le10Sport, Pjanic has been offered to several big clubs around Europe ahead of a predicted summer exit.
The report adds that the Blues and PSG are both looking at the option of a season-long loan, with contact already made.
Le10Sport goes on to claim that Pjanic doesn’t want to stay at the Nou Camp and be on the bench. However, there is a potential stumbling block on the horizon.
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel gives brutally honest answer to Harry Kane transfer links
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