Chelsea and Manchester City are reportedly keeping tabs on the progress of Crystal Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell ahead of the summer window.
According to The Sun, Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell has popped up on the radars of two of the biggest clubs in England, in Chelsea and Manchester City, heading into the upcoming transfer window.
Mitchell is a product of the Crystal Palace academy, having joined the Eagles’ youth setup from Brentford in 2016. He made his senior debut in 2020 under then-manager Roy Hodgson and has since steadily grown into a reliable performer on the left side of the defence for the south London outfit.
Mitchell has made 57 appearances for Crystal Palace, 33 of which have come in the ongoing campaign. The 22-year-old has impressed with his all-round gameplay, having contributed two assists in 29 league outings while also making the second-highest number of tackles in the competition.
Mitchell has made steady progress under Patrick Vieira this term and was recently rewarded with a call-up to the England national. And it seems that the 22-year-old has also attracted the interest of some Premier League heavy-hitters in Chelsea and Manchester City.
Chelsea will likely need to sign a new left-back at the end of the season as cover for Ben Chilwell. The Englishman has been sidelined with a long-term injury and will likely take time to get back to his best once returning to action. Meanwhile, Marcos Alonso has been linked with an exit in the summer, along with Emerson Palmieri, who is already out on loan.
So, Thomas Tuchel’s side will need a new left-back. However, their situation has been complicated by the UK Government’s sanctions, which prohibit them from involving in transfer-related activities. Nevertheless, Chelsea are keeping tabs on Mitchell but will face competition from rivals Manchester City.
The reigning Premier League champions are also in the market for reinforcements on the left side of their defence. Joao Cancelo has done a stellar job playing out on the left, despite being a right-back. But he lacks quality cover in the position amid uncertainties over the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Benjamin Mendy remains suspended by the club.
Manchester City, as a result, are scouring the market for new left-backs and have been linked with a move for Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico. But, Tyrick Mitchell of Crystal Palace has also emerged as a target for Pep Guardiola’s side. Apart from Chelsea and Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are also keeping tabs on the Englishman.
Crystal Palace, for their part, are expected to put up a fight to retain their prized asset. Mitchell’s contract with the Eagles runs until the summer of 2025, meaning they are in a strong negotiating position and can demand a premium fee. It will be interesting to see if either Manchester City or Chelsea make a swoop for Mitchell come summer.
