Chelsea ready to hijack Arsenal transfer plan and scrap £75m target
Posted Saturday, April 11, 2020 by Express.co.uk
Frank Lampard wants to sign a top quality left-back this summer (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea are in the market for a new left-back with Frank Lampard set to make a move in the summer.
Chelsea are reportedly ready to shelve their interest in Ben Chilwell should they be priced out of a move and instead shift their focus on Arsenal target Layvin Kurzawa. Frank Lampard has been unable to stick with a regular option at left-back this season.
Marcos Alonso was a regular in the side under Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri, but he has fallen out of favour under Lampard.
Emerson Palmieri has filled in at the position at times but Lampard has also opted to move club-captain Cesar Azpilicueta over to the left side of defence.
Lampard is eager to fix this come the summer with reports suggesting Ben Chilwell is his No 1 target.
Leicester made it clear in January that they were not willing to sell midway through the season, but it has been claimed they will be open to offers come the summer.
Still, the Foxes won't let the England full-back leave on the cheap and 90min report they could demand close to £75m.
That may price Chelsea out of a move as they're keen to spread the spending on a number of different transfers.
Manchester City are also said to be interested in Chilwell, meaning Chelsea may be forced to look elsewhere.
And it is claimed they have already made contingency plans on a possible alternative should Chilwell prove too costly.
The report states Paris Saint-Germain full-back Kurzawa is an option for Chelsea.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is expected to leave the French capital.
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for the Frenchman and it has even been claimed the Gunners have sent a contract offer to the defender.
His agent, Kia Joorabchian, is said to be currently negotiating with the club.
Chelsea may be priced out of a move for Ben Chilwell (Image: GETTY)
Layvin Kurzawa has also been linked with a move to Chelsea (Image: GETTY)
But it seems Chelsea are ready to enter negotiations over a possible deal.
Being a free agent, that would give Chelsea money to spend elsewhere on the squad.
Improving options further up the field is also a top priority for Lampard with Olivier Giroud and Pedro expected to leave the club.
Jadon Sancho has been strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but Manchester United are seemingly leading the race for his signature.
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