Transfer News: Chelsea star Reece James targeted by Manchester City
According to transfer news from The Athletic, Chelsea defender Reece James has emerged as a target for reigning Premier League champions Manchester City this summer.
A product of the Chelsea academy through and through, James has been with the Blues since 2006, having joined in as a six-year-old. Having progressed through the youth ranks at the club, the right-back had a loan stint with Wigan Athletic in 2018/19 where he flourished, prompting Frank Lampard to give him a shot at first-team football at Chelsea the subsequent season.
From that point on, James hasn’t looked back one bit, becoming a regular for the club and also breaking into the England national team. So far, the 21-year-old has made 84 appearances for the Blues, scoring three goals and setting up eight more for his teammates. (h/t Transfermarkt)
A regular under Lampard and his successor, Thomas Tuchel, James essayed a key role in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League triumph, impressing at right wing-back as well as a centre-back on the right-side of the back-three.
Currently away on international duty with England for the UEFA Euro 2020, the 21-year-old has become a shock target for Man City. The interest in the Chelsea star is being spearheaded by the Cityzens’ manager Pep Guardiola, who is said to be a huge admirer and wants to buy him this summer.
Any approach from them, though, is very much likely to be laughed by Chelsea. James is an integral player at the Bridge and has recently signed a long-term contract, extending his stay till the summer of 2025.
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Furthermore, Chelsea don’t really have any natural backup for James in the right wing-back role either. There had been interest in Achraf Hakimi, but he is bound for PSG. So, Man City’s audacious plans to swoop James away from Chelsea are likely to come to nothing.