Manchester City could raid Chelsea again for Kyle Walker replacement
Manchester City is reportedly considering Reece James from Chelsea as a possible successor to Kyle Walker, as per information from The Independent journalist Miguel Delaney.
Delaney suggests that Manchester City has held a longstanding interest in James.
Therefore, let’s explore the details surrounding Manchester City, Reece James, Chelsea, and Kyle Walker.
As of November 10, 2023, journalist Miguel Delaney, in his newsletter “Reading the Game” for The Independent, reports that Manchester City is expressing interest in acquiring Reece James from Chelsea, their Premier League counterparts.
According to Delaney, the defending Premier League champions have harbored a longstanding desire to secure James and view him as a potential successor to Kyle Walker.
Notably, Kyle Walker recently extended his contract with Manchester City in September 2023.
City Director of Football Txiki Begiristain has characterized Kyle Walker as “an outstanding footballer,” and as of now, Walker is contracted with last season’s UEFA Champions League winners until the summer of 2026.
This information underscores Walker’s significance to Manchester City, as expressed by the director of football.
While Kyle Walker holds a leadership role in the Manchester City dressing room, it’s worth noting that, at the age of 33, he is approaching the later stages of his career.
In contrast, Reece James, aged 23, stands out as a younger option. Both players share the commonality of being England internationals, but the age difference suggests that James could potentially offer a long-term solution for Manchester City in the right-back position.
Delaney wrote: “Chelsea are likely to endure the physical force of Kyle Walker this Sunday, but they may also suffer when the England international eventually leaves Manchester City.
“Reece James has long been earmarked as his replacement, and the European champions are obviously able to offer such a player more immediate prospects of competing.
“It was an option even raised in many of the last few summers, as Walker constantly weighed up his future.
“The issue is that he’s one of those players who just keeps getting better.
“James, on the other hand, is still struggling to overcome regular injuries.”
Manchester City could raid Chelsea again for Kyle Walker replacement
