Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed he tried to sign Bruno Fernandes when he was manager of PSG.

Tuchel will be facing off against the Portuguese playmaker as the Blues host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

But Fernandes could have been playing for the French champions if the German manager had had his way.

“With my first sporting director in Paris, Antero Henrique, a Portuguese sporting director, and he knew [Fernandes] very well,” Tuchel revealed.

“We fought hard to have a connection to him and to bring him to our team. I got made aware of him more in detail, so we watched more and more games about him and followed him and tried to be in touch with him to make it happen.

“Obviously, he decided [to sign for Man Utd] and I was never personally in touch with him, but we tried and he went another way. [It is] bad for us that we have to play against him.”

Fernando Torres could soon be known as the Incredible Hulk rather than El Nino as he continues to dramatically transform his body.

The former Chelsea and Liverpool forward, 36, called time on his illustrious playing career 18 months ago.

Known for his lightning pace, the Spaniard won everything in the game at both club and international level.

However, he may well have eyes on adding more accolades to his incredible collection of honours via bodybuilding.

And few would not back him to do so if he wishes as he continues his stunning physical evolution from nimble striker to hitman.

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has encouraged clubs chasing star duo Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho.

The BVB chief has refused to rule out big-name departures from the club this summer, in light of the financial impact of the coronavirus.

Watzke said: “In the midst of a pandemic, I am now ruling nothing out.

“But it is not necessarily the aim. The most important thing is the financial balance: that we have a strong team on the field and at the same time are economically stable.

“If we play the whole of next season without spectators, we must certainly think about giving up a player.

“Asking banks for credit lines just to not sell a player is not going to be our way.

“We are still unable to make a forecast for the year as a whole. As long as the situation persists, we will not be in the black. Our liabilities are currently at €26.7m [£23.15m].

“This shows that BVB has great economic strength and is very stable.”

Photo Credit: BVB/Twitter

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has revealed the rationale behind switching from a 4-2-4 system to his famous 3-4-3 formation at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian introduced a three-man defence formation after suffering consecutive league defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal in 2016. He thereafter won the Premier League trophy that same season.

“I took inspiration from non-professional coaches rather than those who studied at Coverciano,” the Inter tactician said.

“At the beginning of my career, I used a 4-2-4 system. Then I switched to a three-man defence, it’s more offensive because you can attack with five players.

“When I moved to Chelsea I used a 4-2-4, but I had to change because Hazard, Willian and Pedro struggled to cope with defensive duties on the flanks. Again, I switched to a three-man defence. The idea must be adapted to the players. I see football as a scholar: reshaping ideas makes the difference between coaches.”

Many say Romelu Lukaku is unstoppable, but only if he has space in front of him. Does Conte agree?

“It’s too easy to say that. I wish Lukaku and Lautaro were given more space inside the box. I don’t think it’s a good thing for defenders. Lukaku is an atypical player, he is a speedy centre forward, he could play American Football.”

Thomas Tuchel is keen to help unlock Kai Havertz’s “unlimited potential”, promising the youngster will be given opportunity to feature in his Chelsea side.

The Germany international joined the west London club in the summer and struggled to nail down a settled role under Frank Lampard despite the high expectations from the club’s faithful.

Tuchel insists his lack of playing time over the course of the last month has simply been down to the Germany international’s lack of fitness.

The gaffer said: “Since I arrived, the only thing that kept him from making a big impact is his injury, nothing else. I see a committed guy, I see a guy who made a brave decision to move abroad at a young age and to go out of his comfort zone and accept a big challenge in a big team, in the biggest league.

“I see a totally clear guy who is totally aware of that, full of talent, unlimited talent and I see a play who will have a big impact in Chelsea, I’m absolutely convinced because the mix gives me that feeling that he can have a big role in this club and he is absolutely determined to fulfil his role.”

Tuchel has no doubt that there’s immense potential here. It’s just a matter of being able to unlock it.

The Blues manager added: “He is a unique player. It’s not so clear where he needs to settle. Does he need to settle on one special position? Or is he kind of a hybrid player? Today, I would say he’s in between a nine and a 10, something in between.

“He’s very comfortable in the box; he’s very comfortable in high positions, he’s very good at offensive headers, he has good timing to arrive in the box, good finishing, good composure in the box, around the box, and very comfortable in high positions so between nine and 10.”

Julian Nagelsmann is interested in the Tottenham job if Jose Mourinho is sacked, according to reports.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has come under increased pressure in recent weeks after a run of five defeats in six game in the Premeir League.

Nagelsmann has a contract with Leipzig until 2023.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy reportedly sees the German as the ideal candidate to take over from Mourinho.

The highly-rated German coach, 33, has been linked with a move to North London in the past.

However, there is no suggestion Mourinho’s future is being considered.

But Nagelsmann has revealed in an interview with Bild that a move to the Premier League would be an attractive proposition.

He said: “The Premier League is a very interesting league and I can imagine it could be a big aim to be a big manager in the Premier League one day like Jurgen, who is very successful.

“It could be a step in the future. You know, in football it’s not that easy to plan ‘how long will you be a manager in Leipzig? When will you go to the Premier League?’.

“I could imagine going to the Premier League.

“I could imagine staying as a manager in the Bundesliga for my whole career. It’s cool to be a manager in my own country, I love it.

“Then perhaps in the future we can meet face-to-face in the Premier League, who knows.”

Arsenal midfielder Willian has been discussing his departure from Chelsea last summer.

The Brazilian, 32, has struggled for form since his move to the Emirates, with just three assists and no goals in the Premier League so far this season.

Willian said: “I didn’t leave the club with a fight, I left the doors open.

“Everyone knew the conditions, I really wanted to stay.

“We ended up not finding an agreement, I ended up asking for three years, Chelsea wanted to give two, and everyone knows this story.

“That’s why I ended up leaving.”

Belgium CT Roberto Martinez said Romelu Lukaku can thank Inter coach Antonio Conte for ‘becoming a complete player’.

The 27-year-old continues to impress with the Nerazzurri, contributing 17 goals in 22 Serie A games this term, taking his total tally to 57 in 81 competitive games since moving to Inter.

And Martinez believes the move from Manchester United to the Beneamata came at ‘the perfect moment’ for the former Chelsea and Everton striker.

“He scores like few others,” Martinez told La Gazzetta dello Sport as cited by Football Italia.

“Create and score, create and score, create and score…

“He arrived in Milan at the perfect moment. He became a complete player, obviously thanks to Conte.

“Today, at his age, there are no striker as strong as him.”

Martinez explained the Belgium international ‘always had the potential’ to become a decisive player and said his achievements aren’t a fluke.

“In the past, Romelu always had the potential to be able to do what he is demonstrating in Milan,” he continued. “For me it’s not a surprise.

“For the first time in history, a played scored in five consecutive derbies. It happened to Lukaku, it can’t be a coincidence.”

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says victory for either side would be huge as second-placed Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

And he warned the Blues that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United can strike like a snake on the break.

Tuchel said: “They are a team that can hurt you in any second with individual quality, a team that can hurt you at any second with speed.

“They are a strong side away from home because they can defend compactly and are very good in transition with their wingers and Marcus Rashford.

“Bruno Fernandes has excellent delivery and then there’s Mason Greenwood, Edi Cavani, Anthony Martial, and whoever else plays will be a challenge to defend.

“So the implication is huge. If we get a win out of this game it’s huge for us, if they win it’s huge for them to put more points between us.”

Kylian Mbappe’s potential arrival at Real Madrid could throw the future of Eden Hazard wide open, according to reports.

It is no secret that Los Blancos are ready to go all out to land Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar Frenchman.

Mbappe, whose contract expires in the summer of 2022, is holding off putting pen-to-paper while Real Madrid prepare to make their move.

Even PSG know an assault is coming on their key man and have slapped a £175million price-tag on the 22-year-old’s head.

Spanish publication AS are already weighing up the impact Mbappe’s arrival would have on the rest of the squad.

They write how Mbappe will demand to play on the left wing, the same position as injury-prone Hazard.

The Belgian ace was Real Madrid’s marquee signing in 2019 for a fee that could rise to £150million.

But Hazard’s disastrous time at the Bernabeu has been seriously hampered by injuries having missed around 40 games.