Chelsea is looking for replacements for Reece James, as the skipper is still out due to an injury. The injury is severe, and the Blues have no idea how long their captain will stay out.
Enzo Maresca’s side has already had a rocky start to their 2024-2025 campaign. They lost their opening Premier League game against title rivals Manchester City.
A comeback game was then showcased by the team against Wolves. The Blue currently sits in the 8th position of the Premier League table with 8 points.
After the game against Manchester City, Chelsea has managed to stay unbeaten. They recently came from a draw against Bournemouth. Maresca will want to continue this winning streak in the match against West Ham.
Although Chelsea have a good start to their season, there are still major injury concerns for the club. Many prominent faces from the team have to sit out of important games due to injuries. Players like Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia and Reece James are going through treatment for their injuries.
The seriousness of James’s injury
Reece James was appointed the captain of the Blues in August 2023. His potential as a right back had major contributions to Chelseas’s campaign last season. The defender had only played 11 games last season due to various reasons.
James had suffered an injury at the end of the pre-season games. Reece was subbed in the match against Real Madrid. He met with the injury while training at the Cobham ground. The player was attended by the medical staff after he felt discomfort in his hamstring.
The Englishman has missed all the first six games for Chelsea this season. The Medical reports for him state that he will stay out of the squad for some more games. James was supposed to lead the Blues in the new campaign. Vice-captain Enzo Fernandes and manager Enzo Maresca now lead the charge. Malo Gusto was also injured so Alex Disasi had to start right back in the last game against Bournemouth.
While Reece’s return to the playing squad remains in doubt, the manager has stepped up to be vocal about the player’s progress. In a recent press conference, Maresca said-
“His Injury is a bit delayed. It is important that our players return 100 per cent fit. Reece is still out”.
The English international is one of the best full bacs but his potential has been hindered by constant injuries. After being named captain of the Blues James has only seen 413 minutes of game time in the Premier League.
Who are Reece James’s potential replacements?
The return of James to the Chelsea quad is in the dark for now. The Blues have already sent out scouting units to acquire a player who can fulfil Reece’s role.
As per the reports of TBRfootball, Chelsea has shortlisted five main players that could replace Reece James. Jules Kounde is among the favorites on the list. The defender plays as a right back and center back for Barcelona and the France national team.
The 24-year-old’s versatility and flexibility could help Maresca experiment with the squad. If Malo Gusto recovers in time, Kounde’s arrival chance will be depleted.
The second player that is on the list is Michael Kayode from Fiorentina. The young talent is already under the radar of Giants like Arsenal. Chelsea could acquire the player if Kounde is not an option. He won’t shadow Malo Gusto and can be used as a backup.
Jeremie Frimpong is also in consideration for the Blues. He is arguably the best player in the list However, he isn’t the best pick for the team. Jeremie is a firm right-back and is not very good in the center. Chelsea are unlikely to sign the Dutch.
The next player on the list is Kiliian Silldila from Freiburg. Killian is a good right-back player but he has been used as a backup player for Freiburg. It is unlikely that the player will see his place in the starting lineup of Chelsea.
The last player on the list is Geovany Quenda from Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese started as a right-back but he has shined as a winger for Sporting, Quenda would be considered an odd choice as James’s replacement.
Alex Disasi for now plays the role of Reece James. He is likely to play this role again in the upcoming game for the Blues.
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