UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
Despite spending close to £1bn over the past 12 months, Chelsea are seemingly not done yet in the summer transfer window. The Blues, who recently smashed the British transfer record for Moises Caicedo, are now reportedly on the hunt for a new right-back after Reece James suffered another fresh injury on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The 23-year-old, who has been appointed as the club captain, missed the majority of last season via injury and pulled his hamstring against Liverpool last weekend. He is now set for another lengthy period on the sidelines which has prompted Todd Boehly to begin a new search for a fullback.
According to Ekrem Konour, a football transfer expert, Bayer Lerkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is the club’s top target. The 22-year-old is said to be worth around £40m and he can play as both a right back and right winger meaning he would still have plenty of use for Chelsea once James returns to full fitness. Konour states that Man Utd and Arsenal are also interested in acquiring Frimpong in the final ten days of the transfer window.
What would Frimpong bring to Chelsea?
Frimpong’s versatility and class would be a huge asset to Chelsea which makes this a move that makes sense for all involved. Despite only being 22 years old, the Dutchman has already plenty of experience in British football after coming through the ranks at Man City before playing for Celtic for two years.
Since leaving Celtic for Bayer Leverkusen in January 2021, Frimpong has scored 13 goals and provided 21 assists in 97 matches for the German outfit. These numbers illustrate the fact that he is an exceptional attacking wing-back while the defensive side of his game has improved in recent times, as proven by his inclusion in the Bundesliga team of the season in 2021/22.
If he is to move to Stamford Bridge, then he would provide stiff competition for Reece James, particularly if Pochettino is to continue with a system that incorporates wing-backs. Even when James returns to injury, Frimpong could move further up the pitch to play in one of the attacking positions behind the central striker.
Can Chelsea persist with James?
While there is no doubting Reece James’ qualities as a full-back, the fact Chelsea are now searching for a new right-back suggests that trust in their new captain is running out. He has missed a significant amount of game time through hamstring injuries which suggests it is a problem that will continue to reoccur throughout his career.
In light of his latest injury, Mauricio Pochettino said:
“It’s a sad moment because he’s our captain. He was so excited and full of energy to be our captain. We will evaluate it day by day. For sure he will come back stronger than he was – it’s only a few weeks.”
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!
