Chelsea could open the possibility of selling Reece James to Real Madrid if they can get midfielder Federico Valverde in return.
According to Defense Central, Chelsea could ponder asking Real Madrid for Federico Valverde, a target for Liverpool, in exchange for Reece James. The Spanish giants are keen on bringing the 23-year-old right-back as a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal, but now they have a decision on their hands.
Media reports continue to link Reece James with a move to Real Madrid, and Chelsea’s stance remains unclear. The English right-back is considered one of the best in his position on his day. But, in recent seasons, he has sat more on the sidelines due to multiple fitness issues, which has seemingly hampered his development.
Surprisingly, Real Madrid are willing to wait with patience and monitor James ahead of a potential move in 2024. Of course, the Spanish giants will only consider if James can prove his fitness over long periods, something that has not happened since the start of last season.
Chelsea, for their part, are in a strong position with the 23-year-old’s future. James only signed a new long-term deal last season, which could let the Blues demand a huge fee to sell him, and there will be a few top sides keen if he becomes available.
The general idea is that Chelsea want to wait to sell James as of now. But if they are to achieve some of their targets, a sale could become a possibility. For instance, Chelsea are interested in Federico Valverde alongside other top sides like Liverpool. And if they can sign him as part of the deal for the 23-year-old, then their stance might change.
Real Madrid may have a decision to make about it, but they consider Valverde untouchable in their current system. The report also suggests Florentino Perez could reject offers in excess of €100 million for the Liverpool target, which shows how important the midfielder is for the team. But the Reds are not ready to make their move, leaving Chelsea as the front-runners.
Chelsea could try, but they may have a better pull if they can qualify for the Champions League. However, with James still sidelined, the Blues continue to struggle for relevance in the Premier League, which has already made their quest to finish in the top four difficult.
As for this proposed idea of Valverde in exchange for James, Real Madrid are unlikely to consider any approach of that kind. The player himself had no interest in leaving during the summer, and that may remain his stance for the foreseeable future.
As for James, he needs to prove his fitness sooner rather than later. Even a club like Chelsea and their chiefs will only have limited patience, as they could ponder selling him if he continues to spend time on the sidelines.
