According to a report from Daily Mail, Manchester City are among the clubs keen on the services of Reece James. The Citizens are hoping to take advantage of Chelsea’s financial turmoil following the sanctions on Roman Abramovich. James is among the players who could leave Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea on red alert, along with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Reece James’ Success At Chelsea
Since returning from a successful loan spell at Wigan Athletic in 2019, Reece James has seemingly established himself as one of the pillars of the Chelsea defence.
A right-back by trade, the defender has shown commendable versatility as he can operate as a centre-back or even a right wing-back. It has made the job much easier for Thomas Tuchel when it comes to rotating his squad. The player himself has racked up 110 competitive appearances for the Blues, scoring nine goals while mustering 15 assists.
James’ ability to venture forward, coupled with his pace on the flanks, has made him a reliable right-back. He is also one of the most tactically astute defenders in the Chelsea setup, which is why the 22-year-old has settled in seamlessly under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel.
James’ success has not only been restricted to the Premier League, as the defender has also won ten caps for the English national team. Along with Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold, he is battling for a place in the Three Lions side in the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup later this year.
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A Massive Coup For Pep Guardiola?
Manchester City‘s interest in Reece James is hardly surprising as the club have lacked depth in the fullback department this season. While the team has done well with the two reliable fullbacks in Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo, their potential injuries could have hampered the season for the Citizens.
At the age of 31, Walker isn’t getting any younger either, which makes James an ideal investment for Manchester City. As mentioned earlier, the youngster offers a unique combination of pace and creativity out wide, while his versatility should enable Pep Guardiola to easily rotate his squad week in week out.
At the age of just 22, James also has his whole future ahead of him, while boasting vast experience at the highest level of football. With that in mind, the English international could certainly prove to be a smart long-term investment for the defending champions England this summer.
