Real Madrid Eager To Move In For This Chelsea Full-Back: Should Ancelotti Get Him On Board? | OneFootball

In a recent report, El Nacional stated that Real Madrid are eager to move in for Chelsea full-back Reece James. It is understood that Los Blancos are willing to send Eden Hazard back to Stamford Bridge in exchange for the English talent.

James’ Impressive Run Of Form At Stamford Bridge

James has made a strong start to this Premier League campaign after managed to produce a handful of eye-catching displays on the right side of Thomas Tuchel’s midfield. He has excelled while playing as a right wing-back in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 formation over the past 18 months.

The London-born sensation has found the back of the net once and grabbed three assists in six appearances for the Blues this season across multiple competitions. James has caught the eye by averaging 1.0 tackles, 1.0 shots and 1.3 key passes per game in Premier League football so far. He has even distributed the ball with conviction as he has completed 86.3% of his attempted passes in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Reece James of Chelsea passes the ball during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on September 22, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

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Should Real Madrid Get Him On Board Next Year?

James is a strong presence down the right-wing as he can make some promising runs with the ball to get to the by-line. He loves to whip in a few inviting crosses into the opponent’s penalty box and has transformed himself into a decent playmaker in the final third.

The eight-time England international can even get stuck in with some crunching tackles to make life difficult for the opposition out on the wide areas. However, he can sometimes get caught out of position which he needs to rectify if he wants to play more often after the international break.

At 21, James is only going to get better with each year which is why Los Blancos would be wise to get him on board at the end of this campaign. An experienced manager like Carlo Ancelotti can get the best out of the English defender at the Spanish capital in the coming seasons. Plus, James will offer some serious competition for Dani Carvajal in the race to secure a regular starting spot at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium over the next few years.

Eden Hazard has been far too injury-prone during his time with Real Madrid, so it is only logical for Ancelotti to cut him loose in exchange for a player of Reece James’ potential next year.