Real Madrid are interested in signing Chelsea full-back Reece James, as they eye right-back reinforcements for next summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid are considering the prospect of signing a right-back in next summer’s transfer window amid Dani Carvajal’s fitness woes. To that end, three full-backs appear to be on their radar, with Chelsea defender Reece James being one of the options.
Reece James joined the famed Chelsea academy aged six over a decade and a half a go before going on to make swift progress in the youth setup at the west London club. However, it is only after returning from a loan spell at Wigan Athletic that the English international finally managed to make his breakthrough with the Blues.
To date, the 21-year-old has made 89 appearances for Chelsea while chipping in with four goals and 11 assists along the way. His progress has helped him become a regular member of the English national squad while also popping up on the radars of some of the biggest clubs in Europe. And at present, Real Madrid have their sights set firmly on James.
Real Madrid have one of the best right-backs in the world in Dani Carvajal, who has played a key role in their recent success. However, the Spanish international’s fitness woes are compounding severely now, and he is set for another spell on the sidelines after sustaining an injury against Villarreal this past weekend.
Hence, the need to sign a right-back has arisen for Real Madrid, especially with Alvaro Odriozola struggling to make his mark in the absence of Carvajal. The Spaniard is, in fact, currently out on loan at Fiorentina, with Carlo Ancelotti preferring the makeshift option in Lucas Vazquez instead for the right-back slot.
Odriozola does not appear to be in Ancelotti’s plans and could be on his way out of Real Madrid next summer, and with Vazquez in his thirties now, signing a right-back is imperative. To that end, Reece James is one of the options to have been identified by Los Blancos to bolster their squad.
Apart from the Chelsea defender, Youcef Atal and Trent Alexander-Arnold also feature in Real Madrid’s shortlist, with James third in the pecking order of priority targets for the position. Having said that, it remains to be seen if Real Madrid decide to firm up their interest in the 21-year-old and subsequently look to swoop him away from Chelsea next summer.
