Doubts surrounding the future of Chelsea star Reece James are beginning to crop up, amid interest in his services on the part of a pair of European heavyweights, according to reports.
James, of course, has long established himself as an integral member of Thomas Tuchel’s squad in west London.
Just this past season, for example, an evident dip in Chelsea’s performances was noted upon the stopper being forced into an extended spell on the sidelines, with James’ ability on both sides of the ball sorely missed throughout the Blues’ ranks.
And yet, to this point, those in a position of power at Stamford Bridge have failed to reward the Cobham youth product with the kind of financial terms reflective of his key status.
It is understood that James’ current contract, penned back in early 2020, sees the English international take home around £70,000-per-week.
Such a figure makes the 22-year-old one of the lowest-earning members of Chelsea’s senior squad.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Marcus Rashford is challenged by Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on April 28, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
And it is precisely this fact which, according to reports, has begun to give rise to doubts surrounding James’ future.
As per Sami Mokbel of The Daily Mail, Chelsea, for their part, appear to be in no rush to offer the club’s defensive standout a new contract, owing to his current terms running through the summer of 2025.
This stance, however, is viewed as a risky one, potentially opening the door to rival clubs, who would of course be ready to offer James a considerable hike on his current wages.
And two such sides understood to be keeping a particularly close eye on the situation come in the form of Manchester City and Real Madrid.
‘News of the contractual impasse will interest City, who view James as their ideal long-term replacement for Kyle Walker,’ it is claimed.
Not only that, but ‘Real Madrid have also been credited with a strong interest in James in recent weeks – with sources confirming to Sportsmail that the Spanish club are monitoring his situation very closely.’
Reece James’ future:
– No approach from Chelsea (yet) to extend his deal
– Man City and Real Madrid monitoring
– Current pay doesn’t illustrate role as key player
– Emerging concerns over future at Chelsea amid risk of James feeling undervalued.https://t.co/ft0ZYA7iM4— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) June 9, 2022
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