20 year old left back “has been scouted” says insider as Chelsea’s summer plans crystalise | OneFootball

Summer is approaching fast, and we’re starting to get more resolution on some of the transfer rumours that have been ratting around all year.

Left back remains a problem position for us, mainly because we keep selling our best players there. Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella are our current options, and neither is fully convincing, nor have they been able to stay fully fit all year. After striker, left back feels like one of the priority areas to strengthen the team this summer. According to Chelsea insider Ben Jacobs, the sporting directors agree.

Jacobs’ exclusive column for our writer Simon Phillips names an interesting option in that position – Miloz Kerkez. The 20 year old has looked really good this season as a flying left sided option in Andoni Iraola’s team on the South Coast. His rapid rise means he hasn’t taken a traditional route to the top, but he now looks like one of the best under 21 players in his position in the league.

“[Chelsea] want a young-left back. Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez has been scouted. No singular target is yet determined, though, as far as I am aware,” Jacobs wrote in his piece.

An emerging target

It’s not the first time we’ve heard Kerkez’ name mentioned, and there’s something more convincing than usual about this particular rumour, perhaps because Kerkez isn’t a big name. It feels more credible that a less than well known player is being linked to us, rather than just fans chucking some highly rated FIFA left backs against the wall to see what sticks.

Kerkez should be available for a reasonable price and wage, and he’s in the right age bracket. The question is whether we’re able to shift one of the options we already have at left back in order to accommodate him and to generate the budget to sign him.