Real Madrid are reportedly planning to keep a close watch on Chelsea defender Reece James throughout the 2022/23 season.
According to GOAL Spain, Real Madrid will continue to monitor the progress of Chelsea defender Reece James over the course of the upcoming campaign as they eye a move for him next year.
Reece James’s rise to stardom has rapid. Since breaking into the Chelsea first-team setup in 2019 after a loan spell away at Wigan Athletic. The England international has become a permanent fixture on the right side of the Blues’ defence ever since, making 123 appearances in which he has nine goals and 18 assists.
A regular for the England national team, James has 13 caps for the Three Lions and is certain to be on the trip to Qatar for the World Cup later this year. The 22-year-old’s progress has not gone unnoticed as he has emerged on the radars of Real Madrid as a potential target to bolster their right-back department.
Real Madrid were interested in a move for James this summer itself. However, it looks like they have decided to postpone their pursuit of the Chelsea ace until next year.
As things stand, Los Blancos have Dani Carvajal as their first-choice right-back, with Lucas Vazquez as the backup. Alvaro Odriozola has returned from his loan spell at Fiorentina but is unlikely to have a future at the club and could be sold this summer.
Even though Real Madrid have brought in Vinicius Tobias from Shakhtar Donetsk, the reigning champions of Spain and Europe will eventually need to replace the ageing Carvajal and James has been identified as the heir to the veteran full-back.
To that end, Real Madrid will track James’ progress and development at Chelsea during the upcoming season before deciding to launch a move for the 22-year-old in the summer transfer window of next year. However, the Blues are unlikely to let go of their academy graduate without a fight as they are already working on handing him a new contract.
James, though, is said to be open to joining Real Madrid. So, should Los Blancos come up with an approach for the 22-year-old next summer, a deal could very well be on the cards.
