Reece James injury takes Dumfries closer to Chelsea

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 4 min read

Reece James has suffered an injury setback which could see Chelsea dip into the transfer market for a new right-back, with Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries top of their shopping list.

James missed the World Cup with England due to a knee injury and returned to action on Tuesday, starting Chelsea's 2-0 victory at home to Bournemouth.

But he only lasted 53 minutes before making way for Cesar Azpilicueta, and scans have since revealed that he faces at least another month on the sidelines.

READ: Kante out, Moukoko in: What Chelsea need in January transfer window

Azplicueta spurned Barcelona to stay at Chelsea last summer, but the club captain, now 33, prefers playing on the right of a back three these days and the Blues need an alternative to hug the right touchline.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) December 3, 2022

'Denzel Dumfries already on Chelsea list'

"Chelsea will explore the right backs market, but as of now there's still nothing advanced," transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano wrote in in Caught Offside column.

"Chelsea's current focus is on the Benoit Badiashile deal with AS Monaco. Denzel Dumfries was already in the list in the summer, but as of now Inter have not received any fresh approach from Chelsea."

READ: Revealed: Inter Milan’s asking price for Man Utd and Chelsea-target Dumfries

Badiashile is a left-footed centre-back who should set them back around €40m, while Todd Boehly and Co. are also considering meeting Benfica' €120m release clause for Argentina's World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

But James' injury could change their priorities, and Dumfries is a fine option in the position.

The 26-year-old has seven goals and 10 assists in his two seasons since swapping PSV Eindhoven for Inter in a €15m deal, and is now rated at €24.2m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm.

Should James make a quicker than expected return, he could also play in the same side as Dumfries. The 23-year-old Englishman is just as happy in central defence as at wing-back, and the presence of him and Dumfries could give Azpilicueta an increasingly welcome rest.