After the summer spending spree of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea are now focusing efforts on a new left-back.
At the top of Frank Lampard’s wish-list is Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, so the FA quarter-final between the two clubs came at the perfect time.
On the Blues’ side, Emerson Palmieri took his place at left-back, the one player who could be on his way out this summer.
On the other side was Chilwell, playing the first half right in front of his potentially new head coach.
The debate among many Chelsea fans is whether or not the England international is really worth the fee that will be expected.
Leicester are not going to be letting him go for a cheap fee when they hold the cards in dealing with the Blues.
It could cost Chelsea more than £50million to get the 23-year-old this summer.
Emerson, meanwhile, is the left-back most likely to make way should the Blues invest in the position.
The Italy international has struggled to secure a regular starting spot in the first team, having lost his place this season to Marcos Alonso.
Chelsea might be able to subsidise some of the cost of Chilwell with the sale of Emerson.
But is it a move worth making for the Blues?
Seeing the pair go up against each other, it is clear to see why Lampard does see the Leicester man as an improvement.
It’s mainly in one department, but it is something which Alonso brings for Chelsea and Emerson has failed to do so far.
When Chilwell has the ball, there is a real attacking intent from the off and his first intention is to move forward.
It’s something that Emerson doesn’t quite possess, with his first instinct to look to cut back inside, with the possession slowing down.
To be fair to the Italy international, this was his first game back after the restart, so there was always going to be an element of rustiness there.
But the stats also don’t lie for the left-back, who so far has just one assist to his name over the course of the campaign.
At the beginning of the match, Chilwell looked sharp and up for the game, moving forward quickly and putting pressure on right-back Reece James.
As for Emerson, he, along with the rest of the Chelsea side, looked flat and lacklustre in the early stages of the contest.
Chilwell’s main early contribution for the Foxes was two excellent crosses from set pieces, which put Chelsea under real pressure.
He also drove forward to win a corner and showed the adventurous nature of his game on several occasions.
Emerson’s main contribution to the first half was to pick up the ball and lay it off for Mason Mount, setting up a Christian Pulisic chance.
But in truth, there was little from Chilwell in the second half, with the left-back being pinned back more on the Chelsea right.
His one moment was gliding through the middle and firing in a shot, which was comfortably saved by Willy Caballero.
Alonso’s attacking stats for Chelsea are very impressive and he certainly has shown how crucial he can be in the final third.
But he question marks still remain over whether or not he can be the full-back Chelsea need from next season and in the future.
Chilwell is certainly a young, talented left-back who could fit into Lampard’s side well.
But off this performance, Chelsea must be careful not to overpay.
