The fate of Ben Chilwell remains unknown but Leicester City coach Brendan Rodgers is not taking any chances. He already has a player in mind in the event the 23-year-old defender moves to another team. The player is Kieran Tierney who is currently with Arsenal FC.
As most know, Chelsea was linked to Chilwell although that was before recent developments. The Blues are reportedly getting in Timo Werner soon, meaning their budget will be altered. Tied to that, it would take big money to get Chilwell from the Foxes. The asking price for Chilwell is roughly $107 million, big money that the Blues may no longer have. Hence, that lowers the probability of seeing the English left-back of moving for now.
But anything can happen moving forward. Other teams could inquire about the 23-year-old defender if he is available. Further, the Blues could pull some strings like unloading some players to raise funds. Negotiations could also take place, something the Flying Foxes are unlikely to relax.
Either way, Leicester City is not taking any chances. Tierney may not be a top name this season but has played under Rodgers when both were still with Celtic. He has struggled to blend in with the Gunners and holds not-so-good chances. But Rodgers may have something better for him if Arsenal would be open to dealing him to Leicester City.
However, there are risks involved if a deal for Tierney does push through. Aside from his struggles on the field, the 23-year-old has had to deal with injuries as of late. Combining injuries and his struggles, it is seen as one of the reasons why he has failed to get the favor of Mikel Arteta. Further, the Spanish coach has several targets in mind. Should any of those materialize, Tierney is likely to find himself displaced at some point.
But the key player to watch here is Chilwell. Tierney is a backup plan. If the English defender doesn't leave, it may make no sense to get Tierney from the Gunners. This could be the scenario for at least one more season, hopefully, enough time to help clubs recover lost revenues.
Technically, either Tierney or Chilwell aligns with the vision of Arteta. Youth has been the focus of the Spaniard with players like Bukyao Saka given great opportunities to show their wares. There are other young players on the list, further dampening the chances of Tierney. He does have time to recover and hopefully fit in. If not, he may need to check out other teams where he could fit in.
