Manchester United ‘ready to trump Chelsea in race for Leicester City’s £80m defender Ben Chilwell’
Manchester United are preparing to enter the race for Leicester City full back Ben Chilwell, according to reports.
The 23-year-old defender has been identified by both Manchester City and Chelsea as ideal options to improve their left back options for next season.
Chilwell has been valued by Pep Guardiola’s City side at £80million, a similar fee which United paid for ex-Leicester man Harry Maguire just over a year ago.
Leicester City star Ben Chilwell could move to Manchester United this summer, say reports
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) could bring in competition for Luke Shaw (left)
And according to The Mirror, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be prepared to raid Leicester for another key defensive option by paying the Foxes’ asking price for the player.
Chelsea are believed to be the front-runners for the Englishman’s signature this summer but the same report claims the Blues have put forward a much lower offer for the 23-year-old.
Frank Lampard is desperate to bring in a first-choice option on the left side of defence, with current options Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri lacking in consistency in recent seasons.
Chelsea are favourites to sign Chilwell but Frank Lampard’s side could be priced out of a deal
The Blues do have other options to look at, with Ajax man Nicolas Tagliafico, Atalanta’s Robin Gosens and Sevilla’s Sergio Reguilon reportedly deemed left back targets this summer.
United, meanwhile, currently have Luke Shaw as their first-choice option at left back, while the Red Devils extended the contract of young back-up talent Brandon Williams last week.
Manchester City have question marks over the long-term fitness of Benjamin Mendy, though Guardiola has already brought in left-footed defender Nathan Ake to the Etihad Stadium, who could be used in that position.
Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko can also play there, but they are not natural left back options.
While the 23-year-old’s departure would damage Leicester’s top-four challenge for next season, head coach Brendan Rodgers could use the large fee to invest in other areas of the squad.
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers could invest the £80million for Chilwell in other areas
Burnley duo James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil have both been linked with a move to the King Power Stadium this summer.
Chilwell came through the Foxes’ youth academy, before breaking into the first-team in 2015.
He has since made 123 appearances in all competitions for Leicester and quickly installed himself as the first names on the team-sheet under Rodgers.
Chilwell has also been capped 11 times by England and is expected to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad for next summer’s European Championships.
