Transfer banned Chelsea seems to be in the market for a fullback

Chelsea cannot buy players but that has not stopped rumors linking them to a new fullback. If the ban is lifted, several names have come up.

Fullbacks are the hottest commodity in the modern game because they have to be experts at everything. Whereas it was once the job of a centermid to be great offensively and defensively, that burden now lies upon the fullback. Getting good ones can be the difference between also rans and champions.

Chelsea’s fullback situation is at its most stable in years. The Blues have two solid left backs with one improving immensely this season and two solid right backs with one showing a ton of promise. Marcos Alonso, Emerson, Reece James, and Cesar Azpilicueta may not be perfect but as a unit they can get the job done.

But the latest rumors seem to say otherwise. Despite being transfer banned, Chelsea has been linked to several fullbacks and almost no other position. Where there is smoke, there is fire and the Blues seem to be sniffing around the likes of Youcef Atal, Ben Chilwell, and Jose Gaya.

Atal is the only right back of the three and the one that makes the most sense on paper. Azpilicueta has struggled to start this season and last and his legs may be slowly going after all the wear and tear. James is promising but also still very raw (though, so were Mount and Abraham before this preseason). Atal has been one of Ligue 1’s best right backs in recent seasons and would likely come relatively cheaply.

The two left back targets are harder to wrap around. Either would likely be predicated on Alonso leaving due to lack of playing time. Of the two, Chilwell seems like the lower risk option due to his Premier League experience and his homegrown status. But those same factors are why he would cost a ton and it would be hard to justify spending that much on someone who is not a guaranteed starter.

Gaya seems like the left back fall back option. He is solid enough and has caught the eyes of some for many years, but some injury issues and his improvement stalling has dampened the hype somewhat.

Mind, all three of these names come from rather untrustworthy sources. But the simple fact that they are all fullbacks does hint at Chelsea looking for someone in the role in case they can buy again. A new left back makes sense as the academy has no one close to the first team currently and it is likely that Alonso starts getting itchy feet with Emerson becoming a starter.

But a new right back would also make sense; especially if one of Azpilicueta or James is redeployed elsewhere (as Lampard has hinted). James could become a world beater in short order but it is simply too early to confirm that.

Given the importance of fullbacks to pretty much any manager’s tactics nowadays, getting the right ones that can last can be a very important decision in the transfer market. Chelsea at least seems to be weighing their options as the current squad looks to prove themselves in the meantime.