Chelsea FC could use more offensive players and one of their main targets is Ben Chilwell. He is one of Frank Lampard's most coveted players although he may need to lower expectations a bit. That is unless he is willing to spend a record sum of not less than $97 million for just one player.
This is the scenario that the Blues are facing right now. Leicester City and Chilwell are fully aware of Chelsea's interest and they are expected to take advantage of the situation, Goal.com reported. The Foxes are expected to ask for a ridiculously huge fee from the Blues, something similar to the Harry Maguire deal. It was in 2019 where Leicester City sold hold him to Manchester United for a world-record sum of $97 million.
If Lampard is truly bent on getting Chilwell, this could go down the next transfer window. The Blues were unable to get it done in the January window with the transfer ban in effect. But now that this has been lifted, Chelsea is expected to go on a spending spree and bring in needed (but expensive) players.
However, there is a most recent report from Sport claiming that Chelsea has already given up the chase for the 23-year-old English player. The Blues are reportedly looking at other options, probably aware that they could reel in much cheaper but talented players compared to the asking fee for Chilwell.
Among the names mentioned include Alex Telles and Marc Cucurella. The latter seems to be a more tempting target considering he has been performing great in La Liga. The Spanish footballer is projected to cost roughly one-third of what Chilwell is worth, somewhere around the vicinity of $28 million.
Whether it be Chilwell or Cucurella, Chelsea will have to make room for another player. Two names that could be given the boot are Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso. Of the two, the former has drawn interest from other teams. Robert Mancini of the Italy national team believed the 25-year-old should leave the Blues since he has not been utilized that much by Lampard. Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta have been ahead of him at left-back and the Italy coach feels his talent is being put to waste.
“It would be nice if Emerson Palmieri, who hasn’t played much for Chelsea, could come and play in Italy,” Mancini said to Gazzetta dello Sport.
