According to Daily Mail, Chelsea are leading the race to sign Ben Chilwell. The Leicester City star has been identified as the ideal target for the Blues, and a move could be made in the upcoming January transfer window. The Premier League side are currently hoping that their ongoing transfer ban will be overturned or at least get reduced, allowing them to make signings once again.
Chelsea’s woes in the left-back slot
Chelsea have had a lot of problems within the past couple of years. The failure of Maurizio Sarri to integrate certain players into his tactical setup saw the likes of Marcos Alonso, Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko struggle.
Alonso, in particular, was one of the club’s top performers under Antonio Conte. But, his lack of defensive work-rate led to his struggles last season as he often failed to provide stability on the left flank. The Spaniard also looked ineffective, going forward. But, Sarri had no option but to shuffle between him and Emerson due to the lack of options, though the latter received considerably fewer opportunities.
Frank Lampard, however, has appeared willing to give chances to Emerson, who impressed in the pre-season. But, the Italian picked up an injury and hasn’t been as consistent, of late. As a result, Alonso has once again become the first-choice left-back.
Nonetheless, Chelsea are in dire need of a more quality left-back if they are to enhance the overall quality of their backline.
Is Chilwell the ideal target for Chelsea?
Chilwell impressed the onlookers with his performances during the 2018/19 campaign. He has since become one of the premier fullbacks in the Premier League and was most notably linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer.
The 22-year-old is a definite upgrade over both Alonso and Emerson given his technical prowess. He is capable of moving up the pitch and combining with his teammates in the final third. However, what makes him such a sought-after defender is his ability to rotate possession at a quicker rate, meaning he’s often quite effective against teams who employ a high press.
Most of the Chelsea players have struggled to deal with a high press, so the addition of Chilwell could serve as a massive boon. Besides, the Leicester City star can also whip in dangerous crosses into the box – making him an ideal target for the Blues.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea’s ban gets overturned. And even if it does, Chilwell will likely cost a fortune.
