Ajax Amsterdam hand Chelsea hope in Ben Chilwell pursuit

According to Het Parool (h/t Metro), Ajax Amsterdam could hand Chelsea and advantage in their pursuit of Ben Chilwell.

It was revealed by Erik Ten Haag that Nicolas Tagliafico is free to leave the club this summer. That is significant considering the Argentine is Leicester’s top target to replace Ben Chilwell.

According to the report, Brendan Rodgers is a fan of Tagliafico and is increasingly keen, having resigned himself to losing Chilwell.

The 27-year-old has been impressive for Ajax since joining them in 2018 and could be available for £22.4m.

The Blues have already signed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner. Chilwell is now the club’s priority as they look to close the gap on Chelsea and Liverpool.

The left-back is a position that Chelsea have struggled to strengthen. Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alsonso have enjoyed mixed fortunes, with skipper Cesar Azpilicueta forced to cover for them.

Bringing in a player of Chilwell’s quality will give us a dependable long-term option. Capable of contributing to both the attack and the defence, he will be an incredible asset to us.

Interestingly, Tagliafico is also a target for Chelsea, who identify him as a cheaper alternative to the Foxes star.

Leicester value Chilwell at a mammoth £85million. This will make him the most expensive defender in the world.

Although Chilwell is a brilliant player, the price is too steep, especially in the current circumstances. Tagliafico is a seasoned professional who is an excellent defender with top-tier experience.

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Chelsea have already splashed the cash to bring in Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner. With Kai Havertz also in the mix, it can prove to be an expensive summer.