According to a report from Manchester Evening News, Manchester City are interested in Ben Chillwell of Chelsea as a means to solve their left-back issue. There are speculations of Joao Cancelo‘s exit at the end of this season and Sergio Gomez is still seen as a squad player, so there is a need for reinforcement at the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Chilwell’s Injury-Plagued Campaign With Chelsea This Season
Ben Chilwell had a brilliant start to his campaign this season as he put in a few influential displays on the left flank but a hamstring injury in November shattered his World Cup dreams while affecting his domestic endeavours with the Blues. The English left-back has only found the back of the net on one occasion and has produced an assist over 18 appearances for the West London club across all competitions.
The Milton Keynes-born talent has recovered from his injury and made his way back into the starting XI, however, since he has been out of action for a while his numbers aren’t as impressive compared to last season. He is only averaging 0.9 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 0.8 clearances and has completed 85.3% of his attempted passes per game in the Premier League (stats via whoscored).
His contract at Stamford Bridge lasts until the summer of 2025. Hence, the Sky Blues would have to make an enticing offer to convince Chelsea into sanctioning his exit at the end of this season.
Should Guardiola Bring Him To Manchester City?
Ben Chilwell’s attacking capabilities would be a significant asset for Manchester City as he has been a crucial part of Chelsea’s attack in recent years, providing dangerous crosses and overlapping runs that have resulted in important goals. Pep Guardiola’s system demands similar dedication from his fullbacks in terms of attacking contribution, and Chilwell would be a perfect fit for him.
Chilwell is a solid defender as he has a good awareness of others around him and is not afraid to make tackles and interceptions when needed. Manchester City have had some issues with their left-back position in recent years, and Chilwell would be a significant upgrade over Sergio Gomez in terms of defensive stability. At just 25 years old, he still has many years of top-level football ahead of him and has already shown his potential at Stamford Bridge.
The English full-back has already won major trophies with Chelsea and has experience playing in big matches. He would bring a winning mentality to the City dressing room, which could be crucial in helping them compete for some top honours over the coming years. Hence, signing Chilwell would be an excellent move for Manchester City, so Guardiola should definitely consider moving in for him at the end of this season.
