Surprise rumours have linked Chelsea with a move for Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele, as the club may try to strengthen the team in the January transfer window.

Dembele played for Tuchel during their time at Borussia Dortmund, and the pair still share an excellent relationship.

However, Tuchel has talked down those rumours and claimed that there’s nothing to it.

Tuchel said: “He’s a very good player, and I am very fortunate to have trained him in my time at Dortmund. It was only one year, it should have been longer, but I needed to leave and he decided to leave.

“We are not in close contact, we have met here and there because of his duties for the French national team when I was in Paris. We exchanged some messages.

“I have absolutely no idea why he is in this situation, I don’t know the detail, so it’s better not to talk.”

Tuchel also gave update on Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger who’s in the final year of his contract, and the Blues boss insisted that negotiations are ongoing.

The gaffer said: “I have said many times how important he is. The talks and negotiations are ongoing so there is no news.”