Arsenal

Liverpool To Steal March On Arsenal & Chelsea By Tabling Formal Defender Offer

Liverpool are set to steal a march on Arsenal and Chelsea by tabling an opening £4m offer for highly-rated Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell this week

by
Fraser Crawford
May 26, 2016

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Liverpool are set to table a formal offer for Ben Chilwell…

Liverpool are set to steal a march on Arsenal and Chelsea by tabling an opening £4m offer for highly-rated Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell, according to the Daily Mail.

Chilwell is a product of the Leicester youth academy and has developed in to one of the most promising young defenders in British football having broken in to the first team set-up earlier in the season.

The 19-year-old made three appearances in the domestic cup competitions but struggled to force his way in to Claudio Ranieri’s regular eleven in the Premier League with Christian Fuchs establishing himself as the first choice left-back as the Foxes marched to a shock title win.

Chilwell has reportedly grown frustrated at his lack of progress at the King Power and has so far refused Leicester’s attempts to tie him down to a new contract, with his existing deal having just one year left to run.

The England under international has attracted plenty of interest from some of the Premier League’s most powerful clubs with the Daily Mail claiming that Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are among those who’ve expressed an interest.

However, it looks as though Liverpool are ready to steal a march on their rivals as the newspaper suggests the Merseysiders are now set to test Leicester’s resolve with an opening £4m offer, which is expected to go in before the end of this week.

Jurgen Klopp has already been busy in the market having agreed deals for three players already this summer with goalkeeper Loris Karius recently joining centre-back Joel Matip and midfielder Marko Grujic in moving to Anfield.

But it appears Klopp is also on the look out for a new left-back with Alberto Moreno drawing widespread criticism at times this season and was once again singled out for his poor display in the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla, and Chilwell looks to be on the German coaches radar.

It remains to be seen whether Leicester will be prepared to do business at £4m but given the player has just one year left on his contract, the Foxes must be tempted to cash-in or risk losing Chilwell for nothing in 12 months time.

We’ll also have to wait and see whether Liverpool’s imminent bid will force Arsenal or Chelsea to step-up their interest in the defender and both clubs are likely to be on the look-out for defensive reinforcements this summer.

Kieran Gibbs is set to leave the Emirates after losing his first team place while new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is expected to rebuild the Blues squad following a disappointing season, and Chilwell would be an excellent signing for either of the London duo.