Football

Chelsea confident they can persuade Ben Chilwell to join if they secure Champions League football


Chilwell is a top target for Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)

Chelsea believe they can convince Ben Chilwell to move to Stamford Bridge with the lure of Champions League football, according to reports.

The Leicester City defender has been identified as a top target for the Blues as manager Frank Lampard aims to add a complete left-back to his squad.

Chelsea will resume their Premier League campaign next week in fourth spot, but with Manchester United only three points behind them.

According to the Daily Mail, if the west London club can fight off competition from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side and qualify for the Champions League, they will be confident of securing Chilwell’s signature.

The 23-year-old will not come cheap, with the Foxes said to be holding out for up to £75 million to let the full-back go.

The Blues are not afraid to splash out on big-money signings for this summer, having already signed Hakim Ziyech from Ajax and now looking set to land a £53m move for RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner.

Chelsea are preparing for a return to action next weekend (Picture: Getty Images)

Chelsea are also reportedly keen on recruiting Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz, but the German club want in excess of £90m for the 21-year-old.

With neither Marcos Alonso or Emerson Palmieri able to nail down the left-back spot in Lampard’s side, former Blues defender Glen Johnson believes Chilwell would be the perfect fit, despite his enormous price tag.

‘He’s the sort of out-and-out left-back they haven’t had for a while,’ Johnson told talkSPORT.

‘I know Ashley Cole was irreplaceable, but in terms of a natural, solid left-back, they haven’t had one for a while and I think he’ll do very well.

‘Alonso is a fantastic player, but I don’t think he’s a solid natural left-back.

‘There’s no doubt he is a wonderful footballer but Chilwell is a natural full-back.

‘It’s a hefty price tag if there is anything truth in that but if they can pull a deal off that they believe is reasonable then I think it’s a player they should try to get, yes.’

MORE: Why Chelsea are yet to complete a deal for Timo Werner

MORE: Dietmar Hamann tells Kai Havertz to snub Man Utd and sign for Chelsea

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