“Perfect replacement” – Chelsea wants £30m defender as Reece James replacement

“Perfect replacement” – Chelsea wants £30m defender as Reece James replacement

Chelsea are set to be without Reece James for a while after the 24-year-old picked up another hamstring injury, and a report from TEAMtalk has now claimed that the Blues could sign Nico Elvedi in a potential £30m deal as a result.

According to the outlet, the fact that the Switzerland international can play at centre-back and right-back appeals to the club following James’ latest setback.

The future of Thiago Silva is also uncertain, meaning there is a chance of Elvedi coming in to replace the Brazilian.

His contract expires at the end of the season and there has not been much noise about a renewal. Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew recently claimed that Chelsea would be a worse side without him.

Chelsea need to be careful here. With James continuing to pick up injuries, they have to do something, and perhaps that does mean bringing in a new defender.

However, the England international is such an incredible player. When he is fit, you want him as your first-choice right-back, so the club have to sign someone who is happy to be below him but capable of coming in and doing a job in defence.

Of course, that is the role Malo Gusto was bought for, but he has also had injury problems this season and been suspended. If James cannot overcome his hamstring issues, then the Frenchman alone may not be enough.

It is why bringing in someone versatile like Elvedi makes a lot of sense. And it does not look like he is going to cost stupid money either, though that has never been a problem for Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

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