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According to respected journalist Alan Nixon, Crystal Palace are eyeing up a move for Chelsea prodigy Reece James, who has been a revelation so far this season whilst out on loan with Wigan.
What’s the word, then?
The 19-year-old starlet has been one of the surprises of the Championship season, starting 29 of the Latics’ 30 games whilst recording a goal and an assist.
Chelsea look to have a real prospect on their hands, who is following in the mould of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in making a name for himself by moving away from Stamford Bridge on loan.
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James amazingly won Wigan’s Player of the Month award three times in a row for the months of September, October and November, and has seriously cemented himself as a candidate to replace Cesar Azpilicueta as the Blues’ first choice right-back once the Spaniard starts to decline – this may be unlikely however, given Chelsea’s poor record of bringing through young players.
Potential Aaron Wan-Bissaka replacement?
Whilst the news that Palace are earmarking talent of this supreme quality should be music to the ears of the Eagles’ supporters, they should bear in mind that James’ potential arrival could well be linked to Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s future at Selhurst Park.
The England Under-21 international has been so impressive this season in what is his first full campaign in the Palace senior team that he has been tipped to be included in Sir Gareth Southgate’s next England squad for the upcoming clashes against Czech Republic and Montenegro next month.
Manchester United and Chelsea have already been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old, while previous reports linked him with Everton and Manchester City.
With the vastly talented James in their ranks, who may be unlikely to get a chance in the Blues’ first team for the foreseeable future, perhaps a deal can be struck which would see the teenager end up at Selhurst Park and Wan-Bissaka go in the opposite direction.
In any case, if the potential is there to sell Wan-Bissaka for a high fee and replace him with a younger, similarly talented model at a lower price, it could prove to be incredibly shrewd business for the Eagles – freeing up funds to spend on other areas of the squad.