Here are your Chelsea evening headlines for Friday, June 12.
Chelsea fans unhappy with new left-back target
After they agreed a deal in principle to sign Timo Werner, Chelsea seemed set to address left-back as they stepped up interest in Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, who is their main target to fill the position, according to the Guardian.
However, with Leicester holding out for £80 million, the Blues may be forced to turn to other options, and Chelsea fans are not best-pleased with who might be on the club’s radar.
The Express reports that Chelsea view out-of-contract Paris Saint-Germain defender, Layvin Kurzawa, as a potential alternative solution to their left-back problems if a deal for Chilwell cannot be done.
Chelsea fans are not happy with the move. One fan on Twitter wrote: “Resounding NO, would rather get Chilwell/Tagliafico and then someone like Sandro if we are going down that route."
Another said: “Alonso’s probably better.” Fans are in agreement, then. Kurzawa would be no good.
Chilwell fee could be lowered
Chelsea’s links to Layvin Kurzawa stem from being put off by the reported £80 million fee Leicester City quoted for Ben Chilwell. However, it has now been suggested that the Foxes could bend their price a little if Chilwell desires to leave.
According to the London Evening Standard, Leicester, who were previously wanting a fee similar to what they received for Harry Maguire last summer, could accept a deal closer to Chelsea’s £50 million valuation amid the current crisis and if Chilwell is keen to depart.
The 23-year-old is under contract until 2024 and so Leicester are in a strong negotiating position, but as was the case with N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Maguire, for the right price, they are willing to sell their stars, and Chilwell might not fetch the more egregious £80 million that was previously reported in the current market.
Leicester have already started considering potential replacements for Chilwell, including Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand, and have a policy of letting one star leave per summer.
Chilwell could be that star.
West Ham midfielder tipped as centre-back solution
As Frank Lampard looks to fashion his defence after rotating between four different centre-backs all season long, Ian McGarry of the Transfer Window Podcast reports that Chelsea could turn to former academy player, Declan Rice, as they search for a solution at the position.
Per McGarry, Rice, who plays in midfield for West Ham United, is viewed as a commanding centre-half by Lampard and would offer long-term security at the heart of Chelsea’s backline.
“Another young player who’s making waves and is attracting attention is Declan Rice, the West Ham player who started his time as an academy player at Chelsea and indeed is very much fancied by Chelsea with regards to a return,” McGarry said.
“Our information at the Transfer Window podcast is that Frank Lampard’s feeling about the player is that he could become potentially a commanding presence in Chelsea’s defence, which of course would be taking him out of the defensive midfield role he currently fills for West Ham United, but he did start as a centre-half and has both the physique and ability to play there.”
