Chelsea boss Tuchel drops clear transfer hint with "new generation" plea

Thomas Tuchel has admitted that Chelsea are looking to sign players with "pace" and "speed" amid ongoing transfer links to Leicester defender Wesley Fofana.

The 21-year-old is one of the quickest centre-backs in the Premier League and is wanted by Tuchel for a move to Stamford Bridge before the end of the month. The Blues have already seen two bids rejected by the East Midlands side and Leicester are adamant that Fofana is not for sale.

However, it's also been reported that the Foxes have slapped an £85million price tag on their star man, a world record fee for a defender. Fofana played 90 minutes in Leicester's 2-2 draw against Brentford on Sunday afternoon, but appeared to look unhappy after the game and stormed straight down the tunnel at the King Power Stadium.

Despite Kalidou Koulibaly arriving from Napoli earlier in the window, Chelsea remain keen to bolster their back line with more youth and pace, and Fofana has emerged as the club's No.1 target. The Frenchman is quick off the mark and excellent on the ball too - and Tuchel dropped a hint suggesting Chelsea want him as part of a "new generation".

"It is a lot of experience, it is maybe another of age, it is a lot of experience and they have their quality and they know what they are doing," Tuchel said. "We also need to make sure we have a new generation to take over in the next years but the guys are strong that is why they are under contract and the guys have our trust.

"There needs to be [balance]. I think it is necessary. The game in general is very physical and demands a lot. This is the situation. We knew it before.

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"Azpi is the legend that he is, Thiago is in the moment still very important to us and when we had the chance to sign Kalidou we did it because we believe that he has some years ahead of him.

"But in general it is the fact that like the goalkeeper and the double sixes are in their thirties, and that is just what it is. Pace is an issue and speed is an issue. In all signings, this is the demand of the game that you can play one on ones, that you can defend space if needed with high-speed runs."

The Blues began their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday thanks to Jorginho's second-half penalty after Ben Chilwell was brought down. Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling both made their Chelsea debuts as Tuchel's side started as the campaign positively.