Despite Reece James occasionally facing injuries, his impressive skills as a right-back have garnered attention from prominent clubs, including treble winners Manchester City and the illustrious Real Madrid. This discussion has gained prominence as Chelsea and Manchester City gear up for an impending clash in the Premier League, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the blockbuster encounter.
Both Manchester City and Chelsea have exhibited stellar performances recently. Manchester City’s dominance was evident when they hosted the Young Boys in the Champions League, showcasing a display that could be described as “men against boys.” Similarly, Chelsea delivered a convincing victory against Tottenham last week. With both teams in good form, the upcoming match promises to be a highly anticipated and thrilling contest.
Manchester City show interest in Reece James
Manchester City has set their sights on Reece James, Chelsea’s captain, as the potential long-term successor to Kyle Walker. However, Real Madrid continues to show interest in the 23-year-old player. Despite facing challenges with injuries over the past year, James has recently returned to action at a crucial juncture in the season under the management of Mauricio Pochettino.
Carlo Ancelotti is actively seeking a permanent replacement for Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid. However, Manchester City appears poised to compete with Los Blancos for the signature of Reece James. Despite City and Madrid’s interest, Chelsea seems reluctant to entertain offers for their club captain.
This reluctance could potentially lead both City and Madrid to consider offering staggering figures in an attempt to lure the 23-year-old away from Stamford Bridge.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea’s owners, board, and manager Mauricio Pochettino, all consider Reece James “an important part of the project.” When questioned about a possible move to the Spanish capital in July 2022 by BBC Sport, James replied:
“I’d like to think [my future is at Stamford Bridge].
“I grew up as a Chelsea fan and you know I made my name playing for Chelsea, the club I’ve always supported but I don’t see why anything would change. I play for Chelsea now and I’m enjoying it.
“It is an exciting time. Not much changes from the players or the management’s point of view. I still want to win every competition and every game. There’s no reason why we can’t do that.”
Chelsea vs City preview
In the latest round of fixtures in the 2023-24 Premier League season, Chelsea is set to take the spotlight as they host treble winners Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in a highly anticipated Sunday afternoon clash.
Mauricio Pochettino’s return to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday concluded with an impressive 4-1 victory, while Manchester City secured a spot in the last-16 of the Champions League by netting three goals against Young Boys without conceding in midweek.
After securing just one point from two October London derbies against Brentford and Arsenal, Chelsea has initiated November with back-to-back victories over Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham. However, despite these recent successes, the Stamford Bridge faithful find themselves confronted with the unsettling reality of mid-table mediocrity, as their team currently resides in the 10th spot.
In terms of points, Chelsea faces a significant gap of nine points, both from the top four and the relegation zone. Their performance on home turf has been notably inconsistent, with their only Premier League win in the last 13 matches at Stamford Bridge coming against newcomers Luton Town. Additionally, Chelsea has struggled to find the back of the net in three of their last four top-flight games on familiar ground.
Manchester City stands in stark contrast when it comes to efficiency on their home turf, notably averaging a goal every 20 minutes in their recent clashes at the Etihad against Bournemouth and Young Boys.
Pep Guardiola’s team particularly showcased their prowess by thrashing Bournemouth 6-1, propelled by a Jeremy Doku masterclass. Despite a couple of fresh defensive concerns for Guardiola to contend with, it’s anticipated that Pochettino’s side won’t find it easy to create opportunities against a determined 11-man Citizens side.
The prediction is for the champions to deliver a resounding performance, securing a seventh consecutive victory and maintaining a clean sheet against their counterparts from the capital.
