Bayern Munich have entered the hunt to sign Chelsea captain Reece James
Bayern Munich have emerged as a contender to sign Chelsea right-back Reece James, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t Football. London). The report states Bayern aim to rival Real Madrid for the Blues defender.
The 23-year-old James has attracted heavy interest from the Los Blancos following his rise to stardom at Chelsea. However, German giants, Bayern hope to pip the Spanish giants to the Englishman’s signing.
As he is Chelsea’s captain, luring Reece James away from Stamford Bridge would certainly be no easy task. It shows that the Blues have placed immense faith in his abilities in the long term. Despite his injuries, James remains a key cog in our plans for the future.
Adding the 23-year-old James would provide a massive boost to Bayern’s current backline which has conceded seven goals in the last five matches. An athletic and technically gifted fullback like James, who has his best years ahead of him, is a rare commodity. His versatility would also enable him to play wing-back or midfield for the German side.
The England international has gradually become a vital player for Chelsea ever since becoming a first-team regular in 2019. If we go by his interview with the BBC in July 2022, his heart seems set on becoming a Chelsea legend
“I’d like to think [my future is at Stamford Bridge]. I grew up as a Chelsea fan and you know I made my name playing for Chelsea, the club I’ve always supported but I don’t see why anything would change.
“I play for Chelsea now and I’m enjoying it. It is an exciting time. Not much changes from the players or the management’s point of view. I still want to win every competition and every game. There’s no reason why we can’t do that.”
Chelsea completely overhauled their team this season and have signed several immensely talented youngsters. James is one of the most important members of this team and moreover, he is a graduate of the Cobham Academy, which makes him an automatic favourite among the club’s fans.
So prying James away from the club that helped him become the star that he is today will be a very difficult task for both Bayern and Real in spite of their prestige and financial muscle. Chelsea are not where they want to be and selling players like James will not get us back to the top.
James is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury he picked up in the Blues’ 1-1 draw against Liverpool. He is reportedly set to return after the international break in October. Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will be eagerly awaiting his star player’s return next month.
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Chelsea will aim to ward off all suitors as they build their team around James for the long haul. But Bayern’s entry into the race underscores the rising star’s growing status in the game.