Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Chelsea hold talks with Ben Chilwell transfer alternative
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is on the hunt for a left-back.
Layvin Kurzawa scores unreal goal for PSG in 2017
Chelsea are chasing Paris Saint-Germain star Layvin Kurzawa.
The French international left-back is not expected to sign a new deal with the Ligue 1 champions, and will be a free agent this summer.
Kurzawa, 27, has 13 caps for France and could provide a cut-price alternative for Leicester’s £50million Ben Chilwell, if Chelsea cannot pull off a deal for the England defender this summer.
Chillwell is the man that Chelsea manager Frank Lampard really wants to fill that left-back slot, with Emerson Palmieri set to be sold to Juventus this summer and Marcos Alonso also likely to depart.
But Chelsea have lined up alternatives in case the Chilwell deal falls through, and have initiated talks with Kurzawa this week.
KEY STORY: Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea to announce Werner, Man Utd Sancho twist, Newcastle takeover
Kurzawa was also a target for Arsenal in the January transfer window, but talks came to nothing, as they did with Inter Milan, but Atletico Madrid are also interested.
Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico, who would cost around £24m, is regarded as another potential alternative.
Former Premier League star Don Hutchison believes Tagliafico is a better option for Chelsea than Chilwell.
"Tagliafico all day long," Hutchison told ESPN FC.
DON'T MISS
Chelsea identify two alternatives if 'number one' transfer target cannot be signed
Chelsea ace Olivier Giroud would be the perfect signing for Tottenham for three reasons
Chelsea encounter two problems arranging Timo Werner medical as transfer placed on hold
"We talk about transfer fees, the Chilwell transfer fee in the U.K., they're saying over £75m-£80m which I think is astronomical.
"I look around Europe and I see loads of left-backs that are really good, if not better. I see [Marvin] Plattenhardt, I see Philipp Max.
"I think Tagliafico is the best one out there at Ajax, I think he's terrific and I don't think he will cost anywhere near £80m, half the money I would imagine.
"So he would get my pick, the Argentinian."