According to a recent report by Goal.com, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to have earmarked Leicester City ace Ben Chilwell as their primary left-back target for the summer. The report suggests though that the Englishman could prove to be too costly for the Blues to afford in a post-coronavirus market, to which effect three alternative names have emerged over recent months – Nicolas Tagliafico from Ajax, Alex Telles from Porto, or Marc Cucurella from Barcelona.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Left-Back Situation?
The London club currently boast two recognised left-backs in their ranks, but the sheer inconsistency that’s been displayed by both of them has been a real source of concern for Lampard this season.
Spanish speedster Marcos Alonso is one of the options, but the former Fiorentina man’s defensive fragility makes him a risky choice in some of the bigger fixtures. On the other hand, Italian international Emerson Palmieri just doesn’t have the overall quality required to make the cut at an ambitious club like Chelsea.
Here Are Three Ben Chilwell Alternatives For Chelsea To Consider:
Nicolas Tagliafico
The Stamford Bridge club have reportedly been notified about Argentine full-back Nicolas Tagliafico’s availability this summer, for a relatively small transfer fee in the region of €25m. The 27-year-old still has the best years of his career ahead of him, while his exploits for Ajax over the last few seasons have been quite impressive too. The former Banfield man has the habit of popping up with important goal contributions as well, which will undoubtedly be a point of attraction for Lampard.
Marc Cucurella
Barcelona loanee Marc Cucurella is another player that has reportedly been offered to Chelsea over recent months. Still, Frank Lampard is said to have placed him below the other names on the transfer shortlist. With that said though, it’s worth considering that the youngster is still only 21-years-old, and would fit in well with the project that Lampard currently has ongoing in West London. The Spaniard is an energetic defender, who isn’t afraid to leave his post and help out in attack either.
Alex Telles
27-year-old Brazilian international Alex Telles is the third left-back who has reportedly been offered to Chelsea, albeit at a higher price than the demand made for Tagliafico. The Porto man would certainly provide a much more physical presence at the back owing to his stature, while he is also quite strong at dealing with set-piece situations. More importantly, Telles’s numbers for Porto this season read eight goals and five assists from 23 Liga NOS fixtures.
The Verdict
Even with the presence of three Ben Chilwell alternatives for Chelsea to consider, it must be clarified that the Leicester City man is still Lampard’s preferred choice for the role. Only if a case arises where the Foxes’ transfer demand for their man is too high for Chelsea to afford, will they look elsewhere. From the three options above, it does look like Porto’s Alex Telles would be the most sensible pick, as he offers a better balance of defending and attacking than the other two names currently involved in the equation.
