According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Premier League giants Chelsea are keeping tabs on three separate left-back options, with a view of potentially acquiring one of them as a long-term servant this summer. The report suggests that the latest entrant to that list is Ajax’s Dutch international full-back Nicolas Tagliafico, who would become the second Ajax player to join Chelsea in a matter of months if he ends up moving to West London. The other two options on the Blues’ radar are Leicester City man Ben Chilwell as well as Real Madrid loanee Sergio Reguilon.
Although identifying the left-back Chelsea must acquire this summer certainly won’t be an easy task, it’s one that Lampard will have to ensure gets done. The recent signings of players like Ziyech and Werner highlight the London club’s clear intentions for next season, and if a similar bravado is shown in the defensive phase as well, then the upcoming year could be an inexplicably exciting one for the Chelsea faithful. The transfer window is set to remain open for an extended period this season, which leaves the Blues enough time to address all the areas of concerns that Lampard might have within this youthful squad.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Left-Back Situation?
The London club started the season with two recognised options to choose from in the left-back role, but like Maurizio Sarri before him, Lampard was quick to realise that neither Marcos Alonso nor Emerson, ware entirely trustworthy. The Spaniard isn’t even a left-back by position, as he’s undoubtedly at his best when deployed on the edge of a back-five. Alonso’s over-adventurous nature makes him a risk in the bigger games.
Emerson, on the other hand, just doesn’t seem to have the natural quality required to nail down a place at a massive European club like Chelsea.
Identifying The Left-Back Chelsea Must Acquire This Summer: Who Would Be The Best Fit?
Ben Chilwell
The Leicester City man was the first defensive name to be linked with the Blues this summer, after a decent season in the left-back role, playing for Brendan Rodgers’ side. The Englishman has a vast amount of Premier League experience, and the value of such a commodity in this league simply cannot be underplayed. Despite various signs of quality, there were multiple instances in the second half of last season where Chilwell just didn’t perform up to the mark. The price that’s being demanded by Leicester for their man is exorbitant, to say the least, and acquiring a potentially inconsistent player for a price like that might not be in the club’s best interest.
Sergio Reguilon
The Spanish speedster was a product of the world-famous Real Madrid academy, and his latest footballing involvement saw his loan club, Sevilla, progressing into the semifinals of this season’s edition of the Europa League. At 23, the former Logrones man would fit into the youthful system that Lampard is trying to instil at Chelsea, but his lack of experience in the gritty nature of the English game could come as an issue. Real Madrid have earned themselves a reputation for producing quality full-backs, and Reguilon does seem to be yet another example of just that.
Nicolas Tagliafico
Ajax’s Argentine full-back Nicolas Tagliafico was actually an extremely late-bloomer, in that his first European move occurred in 2018 when he found the switch to join the current Dutch champions. Despite having a limited amount of experience in the continent, it’s safe to say that Tagliafico took to the Ajax side like a duck to water. The speedster boasts a supremely well-balanced skill-set, and he could be branded the ideal combination of both Marcos Alonso and Emerson. Signing Tagliafico won’t be an easy task for Chelsea by any stretch of the imagination, but if they’re able to get it done, then it would have to be considered quite the coup.
