Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Oliver Harbord

Chelsea's heir to John Terry is already on loan and ready to fix their biggest issue

A massive issue for Chelsea this season has been the leadership problem that has hindered the side this year.

There is no doubt that the Blues have leaders on the pitch, with Cesar Azpilicueta, Eden Hazard and Antonio Rudiger all with the characteristics or ability to drag the Blues through.

But too often Maurizio Sarri's side have looked like they have lacked the fight and when they have gone behind they have rarely been able to get themselves back into games.

The Blues have not had a replacement for John Terry, not a massive surprise with the defender having all the credentials to be a true Chelsea legend.

What really happened to Maurizio Sarri to spark Chelsea vs Burnley brawl and what happens next 

However, one player who has all the credentials to be a potential heir to his throne in the future is already on loan right now.

Reece James has had a stellar season with Wigan Athletic as they survived relegation to League One this season.

"He is so self-confident, and that is backed up by his ability and work ethic," Wigan boss Paul Cook has said about James.

"All season he has been showing people that he has a very strong career ahead of him, and we are delighted to be playing a small part in his progression.

"He’s player of the month every month, and he’s man of the match almost every week.

"And he’s as good a lad as he is a player. There’s nothing else I can say about him."

Leadership is sometimes confused with experience.

Miss Manchester United? The punishments Maurizio Sarri could face after Chelsea boss's FA charge 

You only have to look across to the Netherlands, Ajax and Matthijs de Ligt to see that being a leader is not just about the age.

The 19-year-old is the youngster skipper Ajax have ever had and his performances and leadership abilities have guided them to the Champions League semi-final.

De Ligt is Ajax through and through, while James is exactly the same with Chelsea having come through the academy ranks.

James's academy credentials speak for themselves. A double FA Youth Cup winner, double U18 Premier League winner, skipper of the U18s and the Academy Player of the Year of the 2017/18 season.

He was named in the 2017 Toulon Team of the Tournament while also named the Young Player of the Final on England's way to victory.

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri charged with misconduct following Burnley incident 

But those credentials could be even put to one side with the character that he has shown during his time at Wigan.

It has been a difficult season for the Latics, but at the weekend they confirmed their Championship status for next season, with James playing a large part of that.

Despite playing the majority of the season at right-back, James has also been thrown into the mix in different positions, most notably central midfield.

He was also tested at centre-back as well and passed with flying colours, showing his versatility and maturity and such a young age.

The temptation for Chelsea would be to loan him once again next season, but to a Premier League side to give him even more experience.

However, with Manchester United reportedly sniffing around, it looks unlikely that would happen and that the Blues will look to make James part of their first team plans going forward.

Leadership has been a massive issue for the Blues, and if Chelsea were going to stick James in then it might be in place of their current skipper, Cesar Azpilicueta.

Chelsea news: Hudson-Odoi transfer plans, stunning Loftus-Cheek claim, why Sarri saw red 

It seems a no-brainer to have James involved and to let Davide Zappacosta go, a player that Sarri has never really fancied and who has struggled to make any impact in the side.

But it could come with the added advantage of solving two issues. One the right-back role in which Azpilicueta has struggled with at times, and the other is another leader on the pitch who everyone can describe as 'Proper Chels'.

Of course, Terry's boots are pretty large to fill and you wouldn't want to put too much pressure on a player just starting his senior career.

But James has all the possibility of being a Chelsea star and getting him back into the fold and snubbing United is the best way to do it.

'Take Jorginho with you!' - Chelsea fans propose Sarri swap deal after banner at Napoli match 

Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android .

Available to download from the App Store and Google Play .

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.