Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is eager to strengthen his midfield this summer.

The Athletic reports Tuchel's shortlist includes long-term target Jules Kounde, the Sevilla centre-half, and midfielders Declan Rice and Aurelien Tchouameni of West Ham and Monaco respectively.

The Blues could look to bring both midfielders in despite counting N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as existing options in the position. The on-loan Saul Niguez is not expected to be signed permanently at this stage.

Tuchel's formation generally sees him play with a two-man midfield although the Premier League win over Tottenham last month came in a 4-3-3 set-up, with Mason Mount acting as the most attacking option alongside Kovacic and Jorginho.

If Chelsea sign Rice and Tchouameni, that takes them to seven midfielders - though there are also two players out on loan in the English top-flight with Stamford Bridge ambitions who must not be forgotten.

One is the promising Billy Gilmour at Norwich and the other is the highly-impressive Conor Gallagher at Crystal Palace, who has made it publicly clear he hopes to break into Tuchel's thinking for next season.