According to a recent report by France Football, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to have entered the race to sign PSG full-back Layvin Kurzawa in the summer. The report suggests that the speedster would be available for free at the end of the current season, given how his contract with the Parisian club is set to end. The French international has also been on the radar of Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Arsenal, with the Gunners reportedly already having held discussions with the player.
While the report does clarify that Chelsea have entered the Layvin Kurzawa race, Inter Milan’s impending interest cannot be overlooked. The Serie A giants reportedly thought they had an agreement in place during the January window, but the Frenchman declined the project at the last minute.
Juventus were also linked during the winter, and although talks of a switch to Italy have cooled down, it has been claimed that they cannot be counted out. Atletico Madrid and Arsenal will reportedly be the Blues’ biggest challengers for the defender’s signature if Lampard’s side do choose to enter the race.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Left-Back Situation?
The Blues started the current Premier League campaign with two options to choose from in the left-back role, and although that didn’t look too bad on paper, closer inspection would’ve revealed their real fragility. Emerson and Marcos Alonso were Frank Lampard’s two choices for the slot. Given everything that the Chelsea fans witnessed from the duo last season, the situation certainly wouldn’t have filled them with too much confidence. There were inquiries made into possible acquisitions in January as well, but nothing seemed to take shape in time.
Emerson brought in from the Serie A as a slightly more orthodox option to Alonso, has struggled to make a name for himself among the Chelsea faithful. The Italian seems to be bang average at most aspects of the game, with defensive positioning being one of his only strengths. Marcos Alonso, on the other hand, can be deadly while going forward but has never shown himself to be a very good defender. Lampard tried multiple formations to find the right balance, but in the end, was required to resort to playing Cesar Azpilicueta out of position on that side.
What Would Laywin Kurzawa Add To This Chelsea Team?
The 27-year-old has been around the top of the European game for quite a while now, having initially come through the Monaco academy. Signed by Paris Saint-Germain in 2015, the Frenchman has gone on to become a full international with 13 caps to his name as well. A good dribbler of the ball, the PSG man, offers excellent attacking capabilities, while also boasting a decent defensive work-rate. With that said though, it’s worth considering that he wouldn’t necessarily solve the Blues’ defensive concerns in the role. Add in the fact that Kurzawa played just 14 times in the Ligue 1 this season, and this move slowly begins to lose its attractiveness.
Chelsea Have Entered The Layvin Kurzawa Race: Should Lampard Look To Sign Him Up?
The Blues’ search for a new left-back has been no secret, but Kurzawa is unlikely to be the right solution to Frank Lampard’s requirements. At 27, the Frenchman wouldn’t really fit into the system that the gaffer seems to be developing at Stamford Bridge. Moreover, the speedster’s PSG career has been on the downward path as well, meaning that he’s unlikely to get any better from this point. Most importantly, making the switch from the more tactical Ligue 1 to the physical environment of the Premier League can be quite the task. The London club have other options that they can go for, and it would be in Chelsea’s best interest to avoid a move for Kurzawa this summer.
