Ben Chilwell could be on his way to join Manchester City in the summer after Pep Guardiola identified him as a replacement for out-of-favour Joao Cancelo.
Chelsea defender Chilwell has endured another injury-hit season at Stamford Bridge and has only just recovered from a hamstring problem.
The 26-year-old has been on the periphery of Chelsea’s squad under Graham Potter, becoming one of a large number of players finding themselves on the treatment table and on the bench since returning to fitness.
Guardiola and City may try to lure the left-back away from London at the end of the season in a bid to strengthen his squad’s recently leaky defence.
Chilwell isn’t the only player being monitored by City, who let Cancelo leave on loan for Bayern in January after he fell out with Guardiola.
A clash between player and manager means Cancelo’s surprise January loan departure could see City likely move the star on permanently in the summer.
Cancelo’s relationship with Guardiola progressively deteriorated after the World Cup as the player became increasingly unhappy at the lack of gametime he was being handed.
‘First I wish him the very best in his four months,’ Guardiola said last month. ‘Next season I don’t know what happens. He was an incredible figure in the last two leagues we won.
‘After the World Cup, we made a pre-season and decided to play in some different patterns. I like what I [saw]. I gave more time to other players. His personality, he loves to play. He trains the best, the situation he doesn’t play much.
‘In the last years one of the players with more minutes. He needs to play to be happy, we decided to let him go to Munich.’
Chilwell’s future with the Blues is uncertain, with big-money arrivals at Stamford Bridge meaning they may be forced to sell assets in an attempt to balance the books at the club.
He has made just 10 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season, with six minutes in a goalless draw against Fulham last time out marking his first appearance for the club since October.
However, players may be hesitant in joining City given their precarious situation after being charged by the Premier League for 115 alleged breaches of financial rules.
Guardiola is preparing to face one of his toughest Man City press conferences of his career on Friday as he sits down with the media for the first time since charges were brought against the club.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
