Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has refused to fuel speculations linking Ousmane Dembele with the Blues.
Dembele has been told to leave Barcelona during the January transfer window after he refused to sign a new contract. Tuchel admits Dember is a ‘very good player’ and at his ‘top level’ but has remained tight-lipped on reports linking Dembele with Chelsea move.
“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,” the Chelsea head coach told reporters.
“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.”
“It’s [France’s training base] very close to Paris so this is where we met and exchanged some messages.”
On Dembele fallout with Barca
“He is in a situation. I have absolutely no idea why he is in that situation and I have no idea what the situation and detail is,” the German added.
“I know how I feel about it when it is about my players so it’s better not to talk.”
The 24-year-old is reportedly available on loan for a fee of just £3million this month.
