Real Madrid have set their sights on signing Chelsea defender Reece James ahead of the upcoming transfer window, according to reports. The 22-year-old impressed over two legs against Carlo Ancelotti's side in the Champions League quarter-final, winning the Spanish side's attention.
According to the Mirror, the former Blues boss has placed Cobham graduate at the top of his summer shopping list. The report claims that Real Madrid have watched James on nine occasions this season as Ancelotti looks to revamp his ageing side.
Los Blancos' interest in the England right-back follows growing uncertainty in that department, with Lucas Vazquez - a forward - often having to fill in. The Mirror outlines that Ancelotti's entourage of scouts and technical staff believe that James could well be the next piece of their puzzle as they look to reclaim their Champions League title.
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James, who is valued at £49.5 million by Transfermarkt, doesn't see his current deal at Stamford Bridge expire until June 2025. And, since he broke through under Frank Lampard he's grown into a pivotal figure in Chelsea's mainframe, making Real Madrid's task of prising him to the Santiago Bernabeu all the harder.
The Blues defender is building an attractive set of credentials as he slowly introduces a variety of roles into his remit. James has often featured at wing-back or full-back, but he's begun operating on the right side of a three and even in midfield too.
His versatility will undoubtedly be a contributing factor in Real Madrid's interest, and such too will likely drive his price. James' ability to perform at such a high level across various positions has been crucial for Thomas Tuchel and the operation of his system.
The German boss has already commented on the importance of James' role at Chelsea. Speaking earlier in the season after the Blues steamrolled past Newcastle, Tuchel said: "Reece is allowed to come inside, that's not a problem.
"All the spaces we want to attack from, we have all the players in the spaces we want to be dangerous. If it was so easy we would just demand it every three days! In general, we rely on our wing-backs to arrive in the box."
"Today it was Reecey," the Blues boss added. "Two brilliant finishes to secure the victory. It's not easy but when you play as wing-backs it is necessary to be dangerous from your positions."
