Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will back Thomas Tuchel in the transfer market this summer, the Evening Standard reports.
It comes after the Blues were crowned World Club Cup champions, having been led by boss Tuchel to Champions League glory last season.
The Standard say the club hierarchy believe Tuchel would have Chelsea pushing Manchester City for the Premier League title this season were it not for problems with Covid and injuries.
Tuchel is also said to have impressed them by not demanding new signings in January despite injuries to wing-backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James.
And Abramovich is reportedly planning to give Tuchel money to spend on the squad during the next transfer window, with a centre-back apparently the priority.
Sevilla’s Jules Kounde is the “top choice” for that position, The Standard say, while midfielders Declan Rice and Aurelien Tchouameni are also said to be potential targets.
Chelsea’s likely need for defensive reinforcements is obvious given that Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta are approaching the end of their contracts and have so far not agreed new deals.
Reports in Spain continue to suggest that captain Azpilicueta has agreed a deal to join Barcelona at the end of the season.