Chelsea have ALREADY made transfer move for ideal Reece James alternative
Robin Bairner
- 18 Aug 2023 09:17 BST
- 4 min read
Chelsea have been dealt a major blow with the news the Reece James faces months on the sidelines because of another hamstring injury.
The Chelsea defender is no stranger to the injury list. Last season alone, he missed 25 matches because of various problems, adding to 20 games of absence in the previous campaign. This time around, he stands to miss at least a similar figure.
Clearly, this is a massive setback for the 23-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best in the world in his role when fit and firing, but it also poses his club a problem given that this is an area they lack cover in.
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Malo Gusto is the only player of James’ ilk they possess in the squad. Sure, Axel Disasi has played right-back at a high level but is not the same attacking force as the England international.
Gusto does represent a strong internal solution but at 20 years old is lacking exposure to a very high level like the top end of the Premier League. Expecting him to play to a consistently high standard is a very big ask.
So if Chelsea do go back into the transfer market, who is available who could act as cover for James, or at least support to Gusto?
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Jules Kounde: The ideal solution?
Jules Kounde is the strongest option available, according to data analytics experts SciSports, and fittingly the Barcelona full-back was also a player that Chelsea chased intently last summer before the Catalan club completed a dramatic hijack.
Kounde, who is 24, was also linked with the Stamford Bridge side in the early part of the transfer window and in light of James’ injury it would be little surprise to see him associated with the club again given that he possesses the same strengths as the England international.
He has been cited as unhappy at Barcelona, but this is partly because he has not been used in his preferred position in the heart of the defence.
Could Chelsea talk him into performing that role until James is fit again before earmarking Kounde as a long-term replacement to Thiago Silva in the centre of the defence? It should not be ruled out.
A deal would be difficult to strike with Barcelona, though. Xavi sees him as an essential member of the first-team squad, but the Catalan club continue to struggle financially and if Chelsea were to approach with a suitable transfer offer for Kounde, a deal could be struck.
