According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to be the most recent club to have entered the race for the signature of Real Madrid’s highly-rated left-back sensation Sergio Reguilon. The report suggests that the Blues are going to face competition for his signature from fellow English outfit Everton, with the Toffees said to have already placed a bid for the defender. The Merseyside club are claimed to have made an initial offer in the region of £18m for the full-back’s services.
Although the report has clarified that Chelsea are interested in Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon, whether or not he is the left-back option they end up pursuing this summer remains to be seen. The Blues’ search for a new option in the role has been no secret, and their chase for Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, Frank Lampard’s first-choice for the position, has seemingly stopped progressing as well. Reguilon has only recently returned to Real Madrid after a highly successful loan spell at Sevilla last season, but Lampard is reportedly lining up a bid that would trump the one placed by Everton.
What Is Chelsea Current Left-Back Situation?
The London club’s desire to acquire a new left-back has been as apparent as day since around the January transfer window. The number of players that have been linked to a Stamford Bridge switch is no joke, and considering everything that’s currently in motion in West London, at least one signing in this position is effectively assured.
The Blues started the season playing with a standard back-four, and that’s when the fragilities of both Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri began to get found out.
Alonso is a wing-back by position, as Antonio Conte knew exactly what he was getting when he signed the speedster from Fiorentina all those years ago. Despite being deployed at left-back on various instances, it’s safe to say that the Spaniard is far from comfortable when operating in a traditional back-four. Emerson, on the other hand, was acquired as a potentially more secure left-back option than Alonso. Although the Italian does play in that role for his national side as well, his lack of attacking creativity and defensive acumen was always going to be an issue. The need for a replacement at Chelsea is clear as day, with the only question mark remaining in the form of the identity of the player.
What Makes Reguilon An Attractive Option For Chelsea?
For starters, the Spaniard is only 23-years-old and would fit perfectly into the youthful system that Frank Lampard is seemingly trying to develop at Stamford Bridge. An excellent carrier of the ball, Reguilon tends to deliver quality into the box from wide consistently, but it’s worth conceding that he is at his best when tracking back. Arguably among the best one-on-one defenders in the entirety of Spain, last season’s Sevilla loanee was voted the ‘best left-back in La Liga’. Despite having three years remaining on his current deal at the Bernabeu, the promise of regular football and a solid financial package should be enough to lure the full-back away.
Chelsea Are Interested In Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon: Smart Move For Lampard?
The Blues’ search for a left-back has taken the rumour mill on a trip across Europe this season. More than attacking shortcomings, the real area of concern for Chelsea has been defending. Reguilon is known a lot more for his defensive abilities than attacking, thereby making him the ideal option for the Stamford Bridge club. With that said though, let’s not take anything away from the Spaniard’s highly-developed offensive skill-set either. Los Blancos are said to rate the 23-year-old very highly, but considering the amount of wealth they’ve been blessed with in the left-back role, a summer sale to Chelsea could certainly be on the cards.
