Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Chelsea have become immediately light in central midfield. Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson are injured, and the Blues failed to replace Enzo Fernandez; Reece James is providing cover.
Lamine Camara, Manu Kone, and even Fulham’s Sander Berge were all linked with Chelsea on the final day of the window, but Chelsea could not get a new signing through the door. Chelsea have five options.
Cole Palmer and Reece James of Chelsea
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Caicedo will be first choice when he returns, but he is still injured. Romeo Lavia is yet to complete 90 minutes competitively, Valentin Barco is not trusted, and Henderson is still looking to recover his fitness.
Then there is Reece James. The skipper saw out the entire 90 minutes at The Emirates on Sunday in the middle of the park, ending the game with Malo Gusto. But where is James better: midfield or right-back?
John Terry agrees with William Gallas on Reece James’ position
Over the weekend, William Gallas said he prefers James at right-back. The Frenchman said that managers like to try new things, but that Alonso is wrong to continually use James in the middle of the park.
It comes after James has started three of Chelsea’s four games in midfield, while coming on in the win over Brighton as a midfielder. Alonso believes James can become one of the best midfielders in the world.
He said last week: “I would say so [on becoming one of the best midfielders in the world]. He’s very comfortable and confident playing in that position. He has the intelligence to play there, in the middle.”
Terry disagrees: James is best in the world at right-back
James has shown he can be effective in both positions, without a doubt. But John Terry has agreed with his old teammate Gallas, telling his YouTube channel on Monday night that James is better at right-back.
“I see Reece as a right-back. We’ve always been blessed with really good right-backs during my time at Chelsea. Glen Johnson, Paulo Ferreira, William Gallas, Branislav Ivanovic, Cesar Azpilicueta,” he said.
John Terry, former footballer, looks on prior to the FIFA
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
“He’s a great player; we all love him and admire him. We’re very lucky to have him. We’ve seen him play a lot more in midfield in the current side at the moment; I really like him at right-back,” Terry continued.
“When he is at right-back, I think he’s the best right-back in the world.” On playing with James, the Blues legend remarked: “We would have certainly been a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure.”
Alonso may agree with Terry, but his hand has been forced
With Caicedo and Henderson missing, and Barco yet to be entrusted with a starting role in the Premier League, Alonso has little choice but to use James in midfield. When all are fit, he may return to right-back.
But without James in midfield at the moment, Chelsea would be left with Gusto – who is even more of a makeshift midfielder than James- and Lavia, who is struggling to go past the hour mark competitively.
This is why Chelsea needed a midfield signing, with the club still fuming with Monaco for blocking the late £47m deal for Camara. Don’t be surprised to see Chelsea do an out-of-window deal for a midfielder.