Leicester City have reportedly slapped an £85 million price tag on Ben Chilwell, who is the priority left-back target for Chelsea this summer.
According to a report by The Athletic, Chelsea now know how much they will have to pay in order to secure the services of Ben Chilwell in the summer transfer window. Leicester City have valued the English left-back at £85 million, but the Blues believe they can get the price reduced due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ben Chilwell has progressed leaps and bounds since his breakthrough campaign in the 2016-17 season. However, over the last couple of years, he has stamped his authority at the King Power Stadium, forging an outstanding full-back pairing with Ricardo Pereira. At the same time, he has also become the first-choice left-back for the English national side.
Still just 23 years old, Chilwell has already racked up over 100 appearances for the Foxes and had played a big role in their rise up to the top four in the Premier League before football was halted due to the COVID-19 outbreak. His development, though, has been duly noted by several clubs, with Chelsea, in particular, keen on landing him this summer.
Chilwell has been linked with Chelsea for much of the season, but the Blues have intensified their efforts to sign him in recent weeks. The interest in Chilwell makes a great deal of sense, considering the inconsistencies of Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso.
Neither of the left-backs who are currently at Frank Lampard’s disposal have managed to make an impact for Chelsea on a consistent basis and it is expected that at least one of them will be offloaded this summer, with a switch to the Serie A mooted. The Chelsea boss is, therefore, eager to sign a top quality left-back, with Chilwell his priority.
Alex Telles is another left-back who has been on Chelsea’s agenda, with the FC Porto star the first alternative for Chilwell, if widespread reports are to be believed. However, Telles is expected to join PSG this summer, which is why the west Londoners have stepped up their pursuit of the Leicester defender.
Chelsea, though, will need to splash the big bucks, if Leicester stick to their valuation of Chilwell. The report claims that the former Premier League champions have slapped an £85 million price tag on their prized asset. Roman Abramovich is ready to back Lampard in the transfer market, with the 23-year-old potentially seen as one of two marquee signings for the summer.
Having said that, the Blues believe that they can secure the signature of the player by paying less than the £85 million that Leicester seem to want for him. Chilwell has reportedly told his agent that he would like to join Chelsea this summer, which only boosts the west London club’s chances.
However, if they are unable to swoop Chilwell away from the King Power Stadium, Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico is seen as a cheaper alternative. What now remains to be seen, though, is if Chelsea can get a deal for Chilwell over the line.
