Tuchel speaks on Dembele link to Chelsea

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has spoken on the Blues link with Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.

While Tuchel revealed to fuel the speculation for Tuchel, he, however, admitted Dembele is a “very good player” and at his “top level”.

Dembele, 24, is on his way out of Barcelona this month as talks over a new contract has collapsed.

He was dropped by manager Xavi Hernandez for their Copa del Rey defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night.

The report revealed that Chelsea are among the clubs who have been linked with the moves for the French striker, who is believed to be available on loan for just £3million this month.

Tuchel has worked with Dembele previously at Borussia Dortmund.

“He is a very good player and he’s in his top level. I’m very fortunate to have trained him in my time at Dortmund,” Tuchel told reporters on Friday.

“It was only one year, it should have been longer, but I needed to leave and he decided to leave.

“From there, we are not in the closest contact. We met here and there because of his duties for the French national team and, of course, I was in Paris so this was when they were preparing for national duties.