Chelsea supervisor, Thomas Tuchel, has refused to sustain speculation linking the club with Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele. Tuchel nevertheless confessed Dembele is a “excellent player” and at his “leading level”.

The 24-year-old might be set to leave the Nou Camp this month, as talks over a new contract has collapsed.

Dembele was stopped by manager Xavi Hernandez for their Copa del Rey defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night.

Chelsea is among the clubs who have been related to the France international, who is believed to be available on loan for simply ₤ 3million this month.

Tuchel has actually dealt with Dembele formerly at Borussia Dortmund.

“He is a very good player and he’s in his top level. I’m really fortunate to have actually trained him in my time at Dortmund,” Tuchel informed press reporters on Friday.

“It was just one year, it needs to have been longer, however I needed to leave and he chose to leave.

“From there, we are not in the closest contact. We met occasionally due to the fact that of his duties for the French national team and, obviously, I was in Paris so this was when they were preparing for nationwide tasks.