Pranav Nair
Manchester United turn their attentions to Chelsea target Ben Chilwell
According to Sports Illustrated (h/t Express), Manchester United are keen to turn their attention to Ben Chilwell as the Jadon Sancho deal nears completion.
United and Dortmund are yet to work out the payment structure but it appears to be just a matter of time before the deal is done.
The Red Devils are keen to build on their top-four finish this season and are ready to back Ole Gunnar Solskajer in the transfer market.
United ensured a top-four finish by beating fellow challengers Leicester City on the last day of the season. After denting their Champions League hopes, the Red Devils are now keen to snare one of the Foxes’ star players.
United are worried about Luke Shaw’s injury history and Brandon Williams’ lack of experience. In Chilwell, they will get a fairly experienced player who still has his best years ahead of him.
Chelsea are also keen on the 23-year-old who has emerged as one of the best left-backs in the league. A major problem could prove to be Leicester’s valuation of the player.
The Foxes are keen to secure a world-record fee for their star man. If he moves to United, it could be the second time that the club will have broken the world-record fee paid for a defender in successive seasons.
The current record is held by United skipper Harry Maguire, who bridged the same divide last summer in a deal worth £80million.
Although Chilwell is ready to quit Leicester to make a move to Chelsea, the two clubs are way apart in their valuation. This could give us the chance to pounce and secure the defender.
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United will, however, need to sell a number of fringe players to balance the books. The likes of Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Juan Mata could all be made available this summer.
While Chilwell is a skilled player, it is questionable if he is worth such a fee. With Chilwell’s contract running until 2024, Leicester hold a strong hand in the negotiations. It remains to be seen what happens in the summer.
