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Agbonlahor tips Reece James to sign for giants after Chelsea exit claim
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested Reece James should quit Chelsea for Real Madrid this summer with the Blues needing to make high-profile sales.
The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted Los Blancos would have to make “one hell of an offer” to prise the 23-year-old away from Stamford Bridge.
According to Spanish outlet AS (29 March), James is top of the wishlist for Real Madrid as they plot the signing of a new right-back this summer.
The report claims Chelsea may be forced to offload several top talents to balance the books after a mammoth transfer spend in Todd Boehly’s first season at the club.
James signed a bumper new six-year contract at Stamford Bridge last year (2022), which nets him a reported wage of £250,000-a-week.
Chelsea moved for a new right-back in January, signing Lyon star Malo Gusto in a reported £30.75million deal which will go through for the start of the 2023-24 season.
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When asked if James would be tempted if Real Madrid come calling, Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “Of course.
“James, for me, is the best right-back around – bar Kyle Walker.
“His injuries this season have been unfortunate and hopefully he can get past that.
“He’s quick, he’s good on the ball, he can take set pieces, his positioning is always spot-on, he can play at centre-back – he ticks every box. It’s a no-brainer for Real Madrid.
“But they’d have to get their chequebook out, and it would have to be one hell of an offer. Chelsea can’t afford to lose him.
“Real Madrid is that one club where you think – ‘wow, I’ve got to go’.
“But they’d have to make an offer that is too good to turn down.”
In other news, Football Insider updates as Jose Mourinho plots Chelsea raid.