Real Madrid are unwilling to pay over the top for Chelsea skipper Reece James
Real Madrid need a long-term replacement for the ageing Daniel Carvajal at right-back and one player on their radar is Chelsea ace Reece James.
The Cobham graduate is among the best in the position in Europe and at 23 has plenty of years left in his locker. Signing him will ensure the Spanish giants future-proof the position for years to come.
Los Blancos are slowly yet steadily rebuilding their side and the right-back spot is one that needs addressing. Carvajal is the club’s first-choice player in the role but at 31 is on the downward slope. The club’s scouts are sold on James and have recommended him as a potential addition.
According to Estadio Deportivo (h/t Sport Witness), James is seen as a priority signing for the 2024 summer transfer window. However, the Spaniards are unwilling to spend more than €40m, a pittance for a player of James’s abilities.
The English international has often been compared to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold but injuries have largely deemed that comparison moot. After all, it is difficult to judge James on a broader scale when he plays a handful of games over the course of a season.
Real Madrid’s chances of convincing Chelsea to accept the offer seem remote but they are still ready to make an effort and offer the player a long-term deal. The Blues have high hopes for James and even made him the captain before the start of the 2023-24 season.
Chelsea might be forced to sell their player to offset the financial difficulties in the coming seasons. It could be further exaggerated should they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the second year in a row. But then it remains to be seen if James makes the to-sell list or is considered invaluable going forward.
The 23-year-old has made just one appearance for the Blues this season, hobbling off in their season opener against Liverpool. He has since served time on the sidelines with an injury and is unlikely to make the cut for this weekend’s game against Arsenal.
