According to a recent report by The Daily Star, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has added more fuel to the Chelsea transfer speculation fire by liking a picture that English star Ben Chilwell posted on his Instagram account. The Leicester City full-back uploaded an image of himself, posing with the man of the match award that he received following England’s 7-0 demolition of Montenegro a few days ago.
Although the youngster has previously been linked with the Blues, this new information has come as extremely exciting news for Chelsea fans, who’ve seen their manager’s trust in both Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso drop over recent months. Neither of the Chelsea left-backs have been able to live up to potential, opening the door for further transfer gossip to emerge.
What Is Wrong With The Current Chelsea Left-Backs?
The Blues’ current options at left-back include Spanish star Marcos Alonso and Brazil-born Italian international Emerson Palmieri. While the latter has been the preferred choice in recent weeks, his lack of quality in the final third is becoming a daunting task for Frank Lampard to deal with. The Italian doesn’t have a very good cross completion rate – a statistic that is very important for a youthful side like Chelsea. His final delivery into the box is highly questionable, while the quality of his passing in the final third tends to drop over the course of a full ninety minutes as well.
Marcos Alonso, on the other hand, might just be the exact opposite of the Italian. Despite positionally being a left-back, claiming that the Spaniard doesn’t know how to defend, wouldn’t be too much of a long shot. His first priority is always to get forward and support the attack – a trait that has cost the Blues dearly in recent times. On the attacking front as well, his decision making can be quite flawed at times, while he easily gets flustered and gives away silly and unnecessary fouls.
Why Would Ben Chilwell Be An Improvement On The Chelsea Duo?
The Englishman has been a revelation since breaking through the ranks at Leicester City. The Milton Keynes-born 22-year-old has a mean left foot, which he uses to deliver pinpoint crosses into the box. He could really flourish in the Blues’ attacking system, which features a lot of direct and dynamic forward play. Although he is undoubtedly better at going forward, the youngster is aware of his defensive duties and ensures that he works extra hard to fulfil them.
Since making his way into the Foxes’ first team in 2016, there’s been no stopping the Englishman in terms of progress. The Leicester backroom staffs have done a splendid job with the full-back’s development, and he’s fit right into Gareth Southgate’s England setup as well. He’s played in ten league games this season but has only picked up three assists and a goal – a relatively small figure considering his fantastic quality.
Should Frank Lampard Sanction This Deal?
If there is one position in the Chelsea squad where urgent reinforcements are required, it’s the left-back role. Neither Alonso nor Emerson, have managed to satisfy Lampard with their work on the pitch, potentially motivating the Chelsea legend to push for the Chilwell signing even further. There’s no need to question whether he would fit in at Chelsea though, because with the youth revolution that is currently underway at Stamford Bridge, the youngster could seamlessly slot in, just like a glove.
