A bidding war beckons as Chelsea face Manchester United threat in Ben Chilwell pursuit
According to The Mirror, Manchester United have entered the race for Chelsea target Ben Chilwell.
The Leicester City star tops the list of left-backs being considered by the Blues this summer. The position has been a cause of concern for Frank Lampard all season.
Neither Marcos Alonso nor Emerson Palmieri has managed to make the most of their opportunities to stake a claim for the position.
Chilwell for his part is keen to quit Leicester and move on. Unlike the Foxes, Chelsea have qualified for next season’s Champions League.
A major point of contention was Leicester’s valuation of the player. The Foxes consider Chilwell to be in the same bracket as former defender Harry Maguire.
The English international moved to Manchester United last summer for a world record fee of £80m. It is the highest fee ever paid for a defender.
The Blues for their part have been reluctant to meet Leicester’s asking price and have quoted a much lower price in an attempt to get the deal done.
As if that was not enough, United’s interest in the player will now add another dimension in our pursuit. The Red Devils have also qualified for next season’s Champions League and will operate from a position of similar strength as us.
In the end, it could come down to a bidding war between the two giants of English football. Although Chelsea remain the favourites for his signature, we might now have to pay more than we originally intended to spend.
Given that the player’s contract at the King Power Stadiums runs until 2024, Leicester can rest easy knowing they are under no pressure to sell.
The 23-year-old is a capable player who can contribute to both the attack and the defence. His set-piece ability will be an added bonus to a new-look Chelsea side looking to get back to the top.
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Chelsea have shortlisted a number of potential alternatives if a move for Chilwell doesn’t pan out. This includes Ajax Amsterdam star Nicolas Tagliafico, Everton ace Lucas Digne, Real Madrid defender Sergio Reguilon and Porto’s Alex Telles. (h/t Express)