Chelsea launch Bundesliga offensive with cut-price Man Utd target wanted alongside three top stars

Chelsea are reportedly hoping to sign four big names from the Bundesliga next summer, including Manchester United target Benjamin Pavard and Liverpool-linked Jude Bellingham.

The Blues have money to spend thanks to the huge ambitions of chairman and co-owner Todd Boehly. He showed he was willing to back the manager by spending around £260million in the most recent transfer window. That included the £75m signing of Wesley Fofana and the £60m capture of Marc Cucurella.

Those transfers were made for Thomas Tuchel. Now it is Graham Potter who is in charge at Stamford Bridge, though Boehly still has the same expensive plans in mind.

He wants to bring even more top stars to Chelsea to help them battle Manchester City for the Premier League title and add to their two Champions League crowns. Boehly also hopes that more high-profile signings will increase the interest in the club, particularly from other countries such as the US.

According to the Daily Mail, who cite German outlet Bild, Chelsea are hoping to land RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman is in blistering form, notching 10 goals in his first 15 matches this season.

Nkunku’s transfer will probably be the first one to go through. He has already had a Chelsea medical and reports claim there is a pre-contract agreement in place between him and the west London outfit.

Chelsea have agreed to pay his full release clause to achieve the move ahead of their English rivals. The clause stands at €60m (currently £52m) though it could rise based on his performances this season.

And Nkunku could be followed to Chelsea by compatriot Pavard. Chelsea supposedly want to sign the 26-year-old to improve their right-back and centre-back options.

Chelsea cast eye towards Benjamin Pavard

And Pavard could be available for a cut-price fee. The report claims Bayern Munich will accept offers of £30m for him. That is a surprisingly low valuation given Pavard is a regular in the Bayern first team, while he has also won some of the biggest trophies available.

Chelsea’s pursuit of the defender will see them go head-to-head with Manchester United. The Red Devils are eyeing Pavard as a potential replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot on the right side of defence.

And last month, the World Cup winner admitted a transfer away from Bayern is a possibility.

It is no surprise to see Bellingham join Nkunku and Pavard on Chelsea’s wish list. He is becoming one of Dortmund’s most vital players, despite still being in his teens.

The Daily Mail claims Chelsea hope to beat Man Utd and Liverpool to his signing by offering £87.2m (€100m). However, Boehly will need to do some negotiating as Dortmund want £105m (€120m) for the Englishman.

It seems Chelsea and Man Utd will do battle over both Pavard and Bellingham, while Liverpool could be in the mix for the latter.

Gvardiol may join Pavard in defence

The final player in Chelsea’s sights is Nkunku’s Leipzig team-mate Josko Gvardiol. Chelsea went after him on deadline day by launching a £77m bid.

However, Leipzig held off their advances and Gvardiol went on to sign a contract extension in Germany.

A move will come back on the cards next year and Chelsea could apparently spend a whopping £131m on Leipzig pair Nkunku and Gvardiol.

Croatia international Gvardiol would arrive at Chelsea to compete with Kalidou Koulibaly, Fofana and Thiago Silva for a starting spot at centre-half.

This is an incredibly ambitious plan for Boehly to draw up. Chelsea will have to fight off some of Europe’s biggest clubs to land these four players.

But given how confident and wealthy Boehly is, you would not bet against him signing at least one or two of these stars.

It looks set to be an exciting summer for Chelsea fans next year as they might have some top new players to cheer on.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have become contenders for a Liverpool midfield target, according to reports.