Manchester City is reportedly interested in Reece James as Kyle Walker’s long-term replacement.
According to the Daily Mail, the newly crowned Premier League champions are considering Chelsea’s dazzling defender as a replacement for Walker.
Manchester City wants Reece James to replace Walker, even though the club’s whirlwind right-back has a year left on his contract.
However, at 31 years old and with injuries starting to set in, the England international will eventually tire.
While this is unlikely to happen for some time, Pep Guardiola appears to have a plan in place for when it does.
That plan involves the imposing figure of Thomas Tuchel’s primary right wing-back.
Although James appears to be the most likely candidate to succeed Walker on the international stage, few Chelsea fans could see it happening at the club level.
He is very much Chelsea’s present and future, one of the few players who are certain to be a part of the project next season.
While many around him are concerned about their future at Stamford Bridge, the young full-back can be fairly certain of his position.
Unless, of course, the unthinkable occurs and City manages to capture James and drag him to the Etihad.
The city loves to splurge.
Only a large sum of money will convince Tuchel’s employers to let the academy graduate go.
Todd Boehly is reportedly planning to renew James’ and Mason Mount’s contracts in order to keep them from being snapped up by a competitor.
City, on the other hand, are no strangers to spending big money on full-backs.
They paid £53 million for Walker (Guardian), £60 million for Joao Cancelo (BBC), $52 million for Benjamin Mendy (BBC), and £26.5 million for Danilo (who they eventually swapped for Cancelo) (BBC).
Don’t expect a price tag to deter them.
It may not happen this summer, or even next, but Guardiola’s bosses could be knocking on James’ door before long.
