Man City to make shock move for £45m Chelsea star ahead of January transfer deadline

Manchester City may look to make a move for Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell as Joao Cancelo’s heads for a loan move to Bayern Munich, according to reports.

Portuguese full-back, Cancelo, has been allowed by Man City to leave for Germany this transfer window to work under Julian Nagelsmann at top of the Bundesliga Bayern.

Despite starting the season in fine form, and being a key asset for the Manchester club in recent years, the 28-year-old has faced a lack of game time following the World Cup.

The defenders relationship with Pep Guardiola has turned sour and Cancelo has caused disruption which has led to him completing a loan move away.

This transfer is one that comes as a surprise, but City may now have to look in a different direction to figure out how to plug the holes that Cancelo will leave.

Rico Lewis is one option, the 18-year-old has been handed opportunities and has become a regular starter following Qatar, he has played the bulk of his football on the right of the back four.

At left-back, former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake has also filled in on multiple occasion this season and Sergio Gomez has featured as well.

However, City may have to look outside their own pool of players, according to reports by the Daily Mail, and they ‘could return’ for Blues defender Chilwell.

Having opted to drop out of the negotiations for other Chelsea full-back, Marc Cucurella, in the summer, City might pursue Chilwell.

The side second in the Premier League table are weighing up potential options but could step-up their pursuit for a traditional left back.

In 2020, they chose not to activate the English international’s £42 million release clause from Leicester City, with Chilwell instead completing a move to west London.

During his time with the Blues, the 26-year-old has helped Chelsea win the Champions League as well as both the Super Cup and Club World Cup.

The past two seasons have been tricky for him though; last season he suffered a long-term knee injury that ruled him out until the end of the campaign.

After coming back this season, he faced another setback that he is still dealing with, a hamstring injury that has ruled him out since early November.

Recent reports are suggesting though he could make a return in Chelsea’s next Premier League game against Fulham, with it likely coming from the bench.