Thibaut Courtois does not want to play Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
According to transfer news on the Sunday Mirror (h/t The Express), Chelsea defender Reece James is now on the summer wishlist of La Liga giants, Real Madrid.
Los Galacticos are apparently looking for an upgrade on Spanish international Dani Carvajal, and James has been touted as a potential option. The Englishman’s contract with Chelsea runs out in the summer of 2025.
The Blues are said to be interested in extending that deal but no talks have taken place so far with the 22-year-old star. This comes after Real Madrid’s titanic encounter with Thomas Tuchel’s men in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side took away a 3-1 lead at Stamford Bridge in the first leg and the tie looked dead in the water, up until Chelsea scored the first goal of the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu. The defending UCL champions took the lead on aggregate through Timo Werner in the 75th minute.
But Rodrygo’s finish just 5 minutes later took the tie to extra time, where Karim Benzema took advantage of a slip from Antonio Rudiger to fire his side into the last 4. One of the standout performers on the day was, of course, Reece James.
The Cobham graduate had an epic encounter with Vinicius Jr on the flanks, with the Brazilian even taking to Instagram to acknowledge James’ performance. James’ attacking numbers are no small feat, and his injury earlier in the season played a part in our Premier League title charge getting off track.
He has 5 goals and 6 assists in 19 PL games this season. Playing as a right wing-back in Tuchel’s system, he also pulls his own weight in defence. James, who has 10 caps for the Three Lions on the international stage, is perhaps one of our most important players.
And for that reason, we cannot let Madrid, or any other team for that matter, take him from us. The Blues already lack adequate backup for James as it is and if Los Blancos poach him for us, it would open up a whole new defensive crisis for us to solve.
The Blues could lose Antonio Rudiger, and Andreas Christensen this summer, unless there is a change in their contract stance before the start of next season. Cesar Azpilicueta, despite seeing his contract automatically extended by one season on the basis of an appearance clause, is also linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer.
And even if the trio was to stay, fans would still expect the Blues and their potential new owners to keep their best players at the Bridge for as long as possible- a category James certainly belongs in.
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