Gems that can provide competition for Reece James

Reece James, for me, is the best-ever academy product Chelsea has produced. His injuries are becoming a concern though and it’s definitely a position that needs to be of priority for Chelsea FC in the foreseeable future.

I don’t agree with the narrative that we should sign a “backup” to Reece James and the suggestion we should sign an “inferior” player to not block him. Competition breeds success. Chelsea is a club that must be competing on multiple fronts every season. We should be striving for 2 quality players in each position – you only need to look at Manchester City and how well they cope when members of their first 11 get injured.

When tasked with writing a scout report for a club, I seldom use stats. I’m told to focus solely on the player and his overall ability, which is ideal because I’m not someone who would ever use isolated stats to determine the quality of a player. The eye test always wins, no matter what. There are various types of analysts in clubs already who will crunch numbers and scrutinise stats on said players. There are numerous things I’m specifically looking for in a player on and off the ball in a match. Some of which can’t even be quantified with stats. I also focus heavily on what a player CAN do, rather than can’t. Every player has things they can work on.

Due to uncertainty regarding the ideal formation going forward, I have suggested a handful of players who can play RB, RWB, and RB+RWB:

1. RB/RWB – MALO GUSTO

Malo Gusto made his professional debut for Lyon in January 2021 and it’s fair to say he hasn’t looked back since. 

What impresses me the most about Malo Gusto is his overall technical ability and ball mastery for a full back. It’s similar to Reece James in terms of how comfortable and at ease he looks with the ball at his feet. He performs well in defensive 1v1s. His quick feet, agility, and balance allow him to shift his body quickly. Malo already demonstrates a good overall game intelligence on both ends of the pitch for a young man. The 19-year-old possesses explosive acceleration off the mark and gets up and down the field for 90 minutes. He is dangerous on the counter thanks to these aforementioned attributes as well as his close-control dribbling ability. His natural durability and stamina mean he can play at a high intensity throughout the duration of the game – making him extremely valuable offensively and defensively. 

Ranking in the 98th percentile for crosses into the penalty area and the 91st percentile for passes into the penalty area, Gusto loves bursting forward and tends to stretch the pitch on the right-hand side. In the modern game, it’s becoming increasingly essential to have technicians all over the pitch, but especially in defence as building from the back is where it all begins. Gusto has excellent ball control and a vast array of passing types in his locker as well as being comfortable using both feet. As I said previously, he’s adept with the ball at his feet and he would be very useful in this Chelsea side. His delivery from wide areas is exceptional. I remember watching him against West Ham last season and his deliveries from that right-hand channel were as the phrase goes “cash money” he was causing them all sorts of problems with his pace and agility which allowed him easily to beat a man coupled with his precise crossing from out wide.

Also tenacious in the tackle, he goes 100% all in when dispossessing an opponent, he’ll get the crowd off their feet and boost his teammates in the game. He has a similar positive arrogance to Reece James. He did a roulette against West Ham to navigate his way out of trouble. He’s a crowd-pleaser in more ways than one, similar to Reece James.

Malo Gusto would be my TOP recommendation for Chelsea to pursue in the upcoming 2 transfer windows. He is France’s future #1 right back. I’ll be absolutely perplexed if he isn’t starting for them at the Euros in 2024. His contract at Lyon is also expiring in the next 18 months, and I haven’t seen any signs that he’ll be extending, meaning Lyon will listen to offers. But this is a player that I’m sure will have other European giants admiring him, so Chelsea must move quickly to get the deal done. I Can’t see him being sold for more than £30m – and even that is quite a hefty price for someone with a year left on their contract in the summer of 2023. It also helps that he’s from the same country as Wesley Fofana who if he joined, would be lining up alongside him in certain games – this obviously helps with clear communication at the back. 

2. RWB/RB – PEDRO PORRO

After a successful year-long loan spell at Sporting, Pedro Porro was subsequently sold by Manchester City for around £7m in the summer.

He has been in fantastic form this season, recording 8 assists in 18 games in all competitions from RWB. Porro is a terrific crosser of the ball. He’s very precise with his crosses and tends to deliver the ball into dangerous areas. Ranking in the 98th percentile for crosses into the penalty area and the 99th percentile for passes into the penalty area, the Spaniard is adept at receiving the ball to feet and crossing first time, with excellent precision and accuracy into dangerous zones.

Porro is another player with tremendous technical ability considering the position he plays. He has tricks, flicks, etc in his locker. He’s direct and aggressive – very much how I like my wingers, so it’s a testament to Porro’s ability that he can be such a threat going forward but can also put in a shift defensively as a RWB/RB. He has an impressive change of pace and shows lovely balance and poise when progressing at speed with the ball. 

Porro is also confident in taking on opposing defenders and his ability to feint and change directions quickly is a massive plus. He can beat his man offensively down the outside or the inside. In general, he’s just a very aesthetically pleasing footballer and an absolute weapon to have in your team as an attacking full back. A dynamic runner with the ball, he’s equally comfortable in possession and controlling and moving the ball with both feet. 

One unique selling point Pedro Porro possesses is his competence in dead-ball situations. He’s dangerous from free kicks – he generates excellent whip, curl and pace. The technique is great. He’s also accustomed to taking penalties – you wouldn’t think he was a full back with his outrageous ball-striking ability in either of these set-piece situations. 

Malo Gusto and Pedro Porro would be my 2 top choices as they have demonstrated their ability to perform to a high standard in respected competitions even at their youthful age. Gusto only being 19 is scary… Imagine what he’ll be like at Porro’s age. These 2 players I have suggested are extremely similar to Reece James in terms of output and productivity from wide areas. If either did join us, you wouldn’t see such a considerable drop off (or even any at all) in comparison to at the moment, where we have Azpilicueta (who has been a fantastic servant for Chelsea, may I add). Both are attainable targets – I can’t imagine Malo Gusto being any more than £25-30m with his contract expiring in the summer of 2024. Pedro Porro allegedly has a release clause of around £38m. I’m unsure as to whether Manchester City inserted a first-refusal clause on the player subject to him leaving them in the summer though.

3. RB/RWB – SACHA BOEY

Sacha Boey came through the ranks at Rennes, making just 8 Ligue 1 appearances before joining Galatasaray in the summer of 2021.

A proactive, high-energy counter-presser, Boey embraces the defensive side of the game and likes to nip in front of his man at the last moment and make interceptions for his team. He’s a front-foot individual, ideal for Potter’s system of pressing high up the pitch and winning the ball back while deep in the opposition’s half. Like Malo Gusto, Boey is another player that goes all in when making slide tackles. He conveys courage and commitment. In-game, this can translate to teammates and give them a much-needed boost depending on the game state, as well as lifting his team’s crowd – which as a result, benefits his team more than you think. Sacha Boey exudes fearlessness. He wants to win at all costs and shows great anticipation to sniff out danger mostly but is also extremely good at timing last-ditch tackles where needed. 

He’s smooth and shows great care on the ball while demonstrating composure in congested areas. His low sense of gravity helps him manoeuvre his way out of trouble, but he also has the explosiveness to get away from an opposition player. Sacha has excellent acceleration and overall sprint speed. Opposition wingers are very unlikely to get the better of him in a foot race. In addition, this makes him a valuable asset to use in breakaway transitions with his lightning-quick pace and tight-knit dribbling. 

Boey is brilliant at drawing fouls in wide areas. His quick and nimble feet and the ability to shift his body either way, quickly. As a result, he can create an extra yard and beat his opponent on the outside and deliver into the box or cut it back to the edge of the box. The 22-year-old crosses with conviction and has a good feel for the ball while remaining composed and comfortable in possession. What I have noticed also is that he uses his body well to protect the ball, is a great ball striker and is equally comfortable using his left foot to cut in and shoot or control and pass the ball. 

Now, this is a very interesting option. A more than adequate alternative is available for a fraction of the other 2 suggested players’ prices. I’d say it wouldn’t take any more than £15m to tempt him out of Turkey, it’s also been reported that Galatasaray are struggling financially so a sale in January or the summer should be more than feasible. Undoubtedly Premier League quality, he’ll be in England soon enough – I just hope Chelsea don’t register their interest when he’s worth £50m in a few years…

*4) RB/RWB & RCB(in a back 3) – HAMARI TRAORE

Firstly, please look past his age for one moment! This isn’t an up-and-coming future star, this is an experienced individual who will provide a short-term solution to the right-hand side of our defence for 2-3 years – maybe even beyond that. 

Hamari Traore, who also captains Mali, recently enjoyed the best season of his career in Ligue 1, providing 10 assists and 3 goals from right back in 33 games in the 21/22 season. 

He is a physical specimen. We need more profiles like this at the club, we’ve become far too soft and we lack athleticism and bite in most areas of the pitch. This has been a contributing factor in us being far too easy to cut through and has consequently given opposing teams far too much belief that they can pull up to Stamford Bridge and take points. We need more no-nonsense, aggressive and relentless characters who aren’t afraid to stand up and stamp their authority on games. 

Traore is tremendous at defending his box whether that be aerially or on the floor. A warrior at the back, his tenacious nature and desire to come out on top reminds me of Rudiger. Look how much we’ve missed him since he left. I’ve personally never seen him play in a back 3 but I’d be confident in saying he can slot in as a RCB if ever needed. 

He’s adept at progressing the ball, ranking in the 93rd percentile for passes into the final third and the 89th percentile for progressive passes. He’s great at defending the channels and in the build-up, he can carry the ball and move up the pitch (the same way Chalobah does when he plays there). In a back 4, Traore can slot in as a RCB to form a 3 in the build-up and allow a Chilwell / Cucurella to start higher up the pitch where I feel both of them are more effective.

This isn’t necessarily a like-for-like Reece James alternative, this is more an Azpilicueta replacement who can also play in Reece James’ position if and when needed. We always seem to have an injury in the right-hand side of defence and Hamari Traore would provide sufficient cover and tactical flexibility across all 3 positions. At 30 years old and the captain of his club and country, he will provide us with seniority and leadership in the dressing room and on the pitch, once Azpilicueta departs. He’ll be available on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 or a cut-price deal in January. For me, he’s an absolute no-brainer.

Traore once said : “Armband or no armband, I am myself, I have that leadership side to me, I bring my energy and mentality to the group, I am captain at Stade Rennais FC and and Mali, that means I am someone who transmits joy and positivity”

Cesar Azpilicueta can still produce good performances from time to time but if Chelsea want to compete in the manner in which fans expect them to, then Todd Boehly must adress this area urgently to stop the drastic drop off when Reece is out of the side.