Despite a fourth-place finish in the league and a run to the FA Cup final, it is evident that Frank Lampard’s Chelsea squad needs defensive reinforcements in this transfer window. The Blues conceded an astonishing 54 goals in 2019/20, the ninth highest total in the league despite securing Champions League football for next season. While much of this can be attributed to $88 million goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s struggles, the entire defensive backline showed frailties throughout the campaign.
Left back is a position in which the club has actively been looking to invest for several years now, especially since managers Maurizio Sarri and the aforementioned Lampard moved away from Antonio Conte’s 5-at-the-back wingback system. Spaniard Marcos Alonso thrived in that system going forward, but his defensive shortcomings render him incapable of playing a major role in a standard 4-at-the-back setup. The other option, 26-year-old Emerson Palmieri, has never really settled into the team and is reportedly close to a move to Italy.
A HOMEGROWN SOLUTION?
Enter Ben Chilwell. The 23-year-old Englishman has captured the attention at Leicester City and garnered transfer interest from clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool in the past year. However, it appears the player has his heart set on Chelsea and Lampard is keen on making him the team’s left back of the present and future. The player has already completed his medical and agreed personal terms, so now it is up to Chelsea’s Director Marina Granovskaia to reach an agreement with Leicester in the coming weeks.
Chilwell is such an intriguing prospect because of his ability to improve on top of the skills he already possesses. He is already better defensively than any of the left back options at the club, but he is also a solid dribbler and directly contributed to six goals in the league last season. He is also superb aerially, which would be particularly valuable to a Chelsea team that conceded 12 and 14 goals in the past two seasons respectively.
While he brings several attributes that the club currently lacks, the defender is far from a finished product and will have to become more consistent and polish all of his skills to reach his potential. Chelsea may opt to buy another backup left back option if they are able to sell Alonso, which would give Lampard another option when Chilwell inevitably has a dip in form or simply cannot handle playing week-in and week-out. Leicester City could also be holding out for a record transfer fee for a left back (over $100 million), while Chelsea are more comfortable paying closer to $66 million.
A BETTER ALTERNATIVE?
There are several players available in the market who may command less of a fee than Ben Chilwell and be ready to contribute more from day one, such as Ajax’s Nicolás Tagliafico. Leicester City are actually in talks to replace Chilwell with the 27-year-old Argentinian, but Chelsea have shown interest in recent months as well. While he hasn’t done it at the Premier League level, Tagliafico has been one of the best defenders in the Eredivisie and has also shown his ability in the Champions League. In a shortened season, he scored five goals and provided seven assists, which has also put him on Inter Milan’s and Napoli’s radar. Rated at $54 million by the Dutch club, he would also cost less than Chilwell.
Another possibility is Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilón, who was voted as the best left back in the Spanish La Liga in 2019/20. The 23-year-old was on loan at Sevilla when he began to turn heads with his dribbling and passing abilities, and Chelsea have kept tabs on the $30 million-rated Spaniard who could be an option to replace Marcos Alonso as the team’s second choice at the position.
CONCLUSION
When it comes down to it, Frank Lampard wants Ben Chilwell to be a key part in his defensive rebuilding project, and therefore he likely will sign in the next few weeks. The transfer fee will come under intense speculation for the near future, but the reality is that it will always cost more to buy young English talents like this who have shown flashes of their potential. Chelsea fans will need to be patient if Chilwell joins, but he could very well grow into a top defender in the league down the road.
Tagliafico and Reguilon would be cheaper alternatives, but owner Roman Abramovich is back in the mood to spend big and propel Chelsea back up into the title discussion. It will be interesting to see where the Russian billionaire chooses to invest next, with the most likely areas being goalkeeper and center back.
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