Pundit claims Chelsea could ‘kill their season’ after Reece James latest
Noel Whelan has warned “desperate” Chelsea against moving Reece James into centre-back as they struggle to land their top targets.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted moving the 22-year-old away from a wing-back berth could “kill” the Stamford Bridge club during the opening weeks of the campaign.
According to The Athletic (31 July), Chelsea are working on a deal to bring Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries to the club.
That news has sparked fears about James moving to the right side of a back three – a position he has played 42 career games in.
The England international notched six goals and 10 assists in 39 outings last season.
Chelsea have seen a number of moves for centre-back options collapse this summer – with Jules Kounde and Presnel Kimpembe both rejecting a move to the Blues.
Whelan suggested James’ talents at right-back are matched only by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“It’s a waste of his attacking talent and his breakthrough with England,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“I think there are only two full-backs up there as the best in the world right now. One is James, and the other is Alexander-Arnold.
“Why you’d want to move him into centre-back, I don’t know – it just shows desperation.
“They can’t get any centre-backs in so they have to shove someone in there who brings so much energy, goals, and assists in a different area.
“I wouldn’t want to see that and I’m sure the Chelsea fans won’t either. It’s just desperation.
“You do that when you have to do it, but you wouldn’t want to do that to someone who is so important going forward.
“Don’t tell me Chelsea can’t go out and get another centre-back.
“They’re a big side with a lot of money. If they do this, it could kill them at the start of the season.”
In other news, pundit claims Chelsea have found perfect Timo Werner replacement after deal agreed.