It has been less than two weeks since Real Madrid beat Chelsea in one of the most thrilling UCL ties. After going 3-1 up in the first leg, Los Blancos struggled at home and took the game into extra time. That said, they did lose the game on the night but won the fixture on aggregate.
One of the most glaring issues of Madrid has been their full-backs in recent times. Dani Carvajal has become injury prone and is not delivering top drawer performances week in and out. They lack a proper full-back and have been playing David Alaba in that position. Marcelo is looking set to leave the club this summer to return to Brazil. In short, Madrid need depth in that area of the field.
As per a new report from Mirror, Madrid are looking at Chelsea’s Reece James as a potential option for the future.
James, 22, has been one of the standouts for Thomas Tuchel this season. Yes, he did sustain an injury in the early part of the season but is slowly getting back to his best now.
The report adds that within their offices, Madrid believe that James can be a top player for years to come. The Englishman has the potential to succeed on the world stage but Tuchel will have the final say on the potential transfer.
The perfect Dani Carvajal replacement?
The former La Liga champions are tipped to enter the market for a central defender. It could probably mean that they are willing to count on Alaba as the left-back for next season. Nacho will be his backup.
Now, with Marcelo set to leave, Real will only be left with Carvajal as their only RB. So, it makes sense for them to pursue Reece James.
James is an attacking RB and his stats this season suggest the same as well. The 22-year-old has scored five times and assisted six times this season, from only 19 PL appearances.
He is strong physically, quick in transitions, and has a high attacking output. The last time Madrid and Chelsea faced off (last season), the Spanish giants lost the game on physicality. To succeed in Europe, a strong physical side is a must.
Signing James next summer could prove to be a tad difficult, given the financial condition of the club. With their new owners yet to be decided, Chelsea cannot make any player sales or purchases.
But, if they do manage to get a new owner before the end of the summer window, we can expect Madrid to go for Reece James. The only question is if James would want to leave his boyhood club.
