Leicester City to insist Chelsea target Ben Chilwell is not for sale
Leicester are ready to resist any bids for Ben Chilwell this summer and will insist that the England international is not for sale.
Chilwell is emerging as Chelsea manager Frank Lampard’s No. 1 transfer target at left-back, with the London club preparing to spend significant money despite the devastating impact on football finances from the coronavirus crisis.
Germany striker Timo Werner has already agreed to join Lampard for £53 million from RB Leipzig, as first revealed by Telegraph Sport, and Chelsea are set to make a move for Chilwell at the end of this season.
But Leicester have no plans to sell the 23 year old defender, who has four years remaining on his contract and is a regular under Brendan Rodgers and Gareth Southgate.
Though Leicester will refuse to place a valuation on Chilwell’s head, it is understood that it will require a fee to rival the £85 million which Manchester United paid last August for Harry Maguire for them to even consider doing business.
Leicester are targeting a place in next season’s Champions League under Rodgers and have proven over the last four years that they can be extremely tough negotiators on player sales.
Since winning the title in 2016, the club has received over £170 million in transfer fees from the sales of Maguire, Riyad Mahrez (£60 million to Manchester City] and N’Golo Kante (£32 million to Chelsea) alone.
Leicester’s hardball stance on Chilwell is reinforced by the fact that he has been with the club since the age of 12, has progressed through the academy and is now first choice for both club and country.
Lampard is determined to sign a left-back ahead of next season, with doubts persisting over the longevity of Marcos Alonso, but Leicester also recognise that Chilwell’s specialist position only strengthens their bargaining power.
Chilwell told Telegraph Sport earlier this week that he is fully focused on helping Leicester secure a return to European competition next season.
He said: “We all want Champions League football back at Leicester. When I came on against Atletico Madrid [in the 2016/17 quarter-final second leg] it was the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in.
“We want to get the job done now and get that top four, that’s the main thing.”
