The Blues kicked off their season with a hard fought 2-1 victory over London rivals West Ham United on Monday. Manager Antonio Conte may now be looking to recruit one of Real Madrid’s most highly rated playmakers in James Rodriguez to add more cutting edge to the Chelsea attack.
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder has fallen out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu since his €75 million move from AS Monaco in 2014. The Colombian does not figure in Zinedine Zidane’s plans and has been relegated to the bench in recent times as the Frenchman has preferred a midfield trio of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro.
Zidane recently dropped hints that James could be on his way out of the club, and his role has come under further threat after the great showing by Isco and academy product Marco Asensio in the UEFA Super Cup. Both of them are competing with the Colombian for a place in the starting XI and both were preferred by Zidane against Sevilla.
James has strongly been linked with a move to Ligue 1 champions PSG, who are one of the few clubs who can afford the midfielder’s asking price. However, Premier League giants Chelsea are now ready to make a €90 million bid for the Colombian, according to Spanish publication Sport.
Chelsea’s new manager Antonio Conte has only made two major signings this summer — striker Michy Batshuayi from Marseille and defensive midfielder N’golo Kante from Leicester City. However, it is believed that the Italian is keen to add another midfielder before the transfer window closes as he prepares to mould the squad according to his philosophy.
Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, who has has been linked with a move to Serie A Champions Juventus, was ominously dropped in the season opener against the Hammers. An exit could pave the way for a new creative player at Stamford Bridge and James Rodriguez has what it takes to shine when given the opportunity to do so. The Colombian playmaker is highly rated, and at the age of just 25, Conte could develop him into one of the stars of his midfield at Chelsea.
The former Monaco man has been the subject of a lot of media scrutiny over the past couple of years because of alleged disciplinary problems, but under a strict task-master like Conte, those issues may become a thing of the past.