Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel has reportedly made a last-ditch attempt to dissuade Thiago Silva from joining Chelsea.
Silva appeared to confirm that his eight-year spell with PSG had come to a disappointing end after the Ligue 1 champions were beaten by Bayern Munich in Sunday’s Champions League final.
The 35-year-old centre-half allowed his contract to run down at the Parc des Princes and is available on a free transfer this summer.
Widespread reports suggest Silva is ready to accept a two-year contract and a significant pay cut in west London, with Frank Lampard keen to add experience to his options in central defence.
But, according to L’Equipe, Tuchel is desperate to keep hold of Silva and has not yet given up hope of extending the centre-back’s stay in Paris.
The PSG manager is pleading with the club to offer Silva new terms for an extension and believes there’s a chance the Brazilian could still change his mind.
Speaking after PSG’s Champions League final loss, Silva insisted: ‘It was my last game in Paris. I am sad.
‘I want to apologise to the supporters. I thank them all for their love. I will return to Paris and this club that I love in another role.
‘I want to play three to four years still and be part of Brazil team in the Qatar World Cup.’
But despite Tuchel’s efforts, Chelsea are expected to announce Silva’s arrival before the end of next week.
The Blues have set out their stall in the wake of a two-window transfer ban, wrapping up deals for Leipzig’s Timo Werner and Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech, and the club are far from finished in this summer’s market.
Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kai Havertz and Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell look set to follow Silva through the doors at Stamford Bridge over the coming days.
Lampard underlined Chelsea’s need to strengthen after the club’s crushing defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month.
‘We will look at that because that’s our job, my job and we’re very joined up with how we’ve worked at it already,’ the Chelsea manager said.
‘From having a transfer ban, you feel the fact we missed out where other clubs had spent and improved and recruitment is a big part of this game.
