Pep Guardiola Sets Sights on Summer Transfer Target: Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell Impresses City Boss
Pep Guardiola reportedly chose Ben Chilwell to replace the unpopular Joao Cancelo, and he could be on his way to joining Manchester City in the summer.
The Englishman has only recently returned from injury to help Chelsea’s chances for the second half of the season, but he might soon join one of their Premier League rivals.
Under Graham Potter, Chilwell has been a bench player and one of several players who have found themselves on the treatment table and on the sidelines after regaining fitness.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano writes for CaughtOffside that Guardiola and City have had a significant interest in the left-back for some time and may now attempt to entice him away from London at the end of the current campaign.
One player that has been valued by Manchester City for a long time is Ben Chilwell, according to Romano.
He is undoubtedly an LB to take into account, but from what I’ve heard, he isn’t the only one.
They will have a shortlist of candidates for that role and will make a decision in May or June along with Pep [Guardiola].
Cancelo’s loan transfer to Bayern Munich in January could result in the long-term sale of the player in the summer due to a conflict between the player and management. This will likely give City a clear run at Chilwell and could make the transfer a possibility.
Chelsea may try to deter interest in their top player, but recent high-profile arrivals at Stamford Bridge mean they may be obliged to sell off assets in an effort to balance the books at the club.
Chilwell has played just 10 times in the Premier League for the Blues this year; his most recent outing against Fulham saw him play six minutes in a scoreless tie, which was his first appearance for the team since October.
Players may be discouraged from joining City due to their perilous status following charges brought against them by the Premier League for financial infractions.
Guardiola is set to meet with the media for the first time since the club was accused of violating the law on Friday and is preparing for one of the toughest press conferences of his career.
In conclusion, the transfer of Ben Chilwell to Manchester City is not a sure thing but it is a possibility that is definitely worth keeping an eye on in the coming months. Stay tuned for further updates as the story develops.