Thomas Tuchel to be handed £260m transfer budget?

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel could be handed a substantial transfer budget of around £260m during this summer's transfer window.

The Blues were the biggest spenders in Europe last summer as they signed Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy for more than £220m.

Despite this, the club were unable to close the gap on their title rivals and that paved the way for Frank Lampard to be dismissed from the manager's job last month.

Under Tuchel, they have made a bright beginning with an eight-match unbeaten streak and Tuttomercatoweb claims that the German will backed by owner Roman Abramovich in the transfer market.

Tuchel is eager to land the signature of Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland and the £260m transfer budget should allow him to prise away the Norwegian from the German outfit.

Haaland's current deal has a buy-out clause worth £68m but that can only be triggered in June 2022. The Blues will have to pay more than £100m to compete for his signature this summer.