Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign Ben Chilwell from Leicester City after a breakthrough in talks. (Times)
Twitter hills were alive with the sound of Chilwell music yesterday as a Leicester City ITK claimed that the 23-year-old was packing his bags and ready to go, leaving on a jet plane (well, probably just a car). Chelsea medical in a the next couple days, dont’cha know!
Big, if true.
🚨MERCATO🚨
There has now been a breakthrough in negociations for #Ben #Chilwell. #LCFC are now willing to reduce their £80m price tag. Similarly to #Havertz, Chilwell wants to move to #CFC, which makes the transfer easier. Not yet agreed, more to come soon.#ChelseaFranceTV pic.twitter.com/4gb2qS5jw7
— Chelsea France TV: EN (@ChelseaFranceTV) August 15, 2020
Of course, truth can be hard to find in the rumor mill. And claiming progress in the Chilwell situation is a pretty easy sell, even if Manchester United have been throw back into the mix by a few tabloids lately as well.
And just because the Times are now backing yesterday’s ITK news with a (presumably) confirmed source, that still doesn’t mean there’s ultimate truth to be found here. But the Times do claim that there’s been a “breakthrough” in the talks over Lampard’s long-standing left back target, with the two teams narrowing in on a transfer fee that’s less than Leicester’s original £80m demand, but still more than the current world record for a left back, £52m set three years ago
🚨MERCATO🚨
Leicester want £65m for Ben #Chilwell. £15m less than their original asking price of £80m. Ben Chilwell wants to go to #Chelsea. #ChelseaFranceTV #CFC pic.twitter.com/xqxKagDGyr
— Chelsea France TV: EN (@ChelseaFranceTV) August 15, 2020
How this would affect Chelsea’s other proposed business is not quite clear. Chilwell has been one of our primary targets for much of the season — and thus probably budgeting in on some level — but the Havertz pursuit has taken center stage and is expected to close sooner rather than later. Chelsea also still need to clear out a ton of deadwood, including at least one of the two left backs currently on the team, Emerson or Marcos Alonso. That bit of income was said to be essential towards a successful summer as well.
Getting Chilwell would not be the end of our transfer market activities, that’s for sure.