Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has expressed confidence that Reece James can develop into one of the finest midfielders in world football, even as the club navigates a thinning midfield department following a series of summer departures.
Chelsea's midfield ranks were significantly reduced after a proposed deal for Mamadou Camara collapsed and Enzo Fernandez completed a club-record £125million move to Manchester City. Those developments have left Alonso with just four recognized midfield options on his books: Moises Caicedo, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson and Romeo Lavia.
To bolster that group, Alonso is turning to James, a player renowned as one of the best right-backs on the planet, and now being asked to shoulder greater responsibility further infield. When questioned on whether James possesses the qualities to reach the top bracket of central midfielders, Alonso responded with clear conviction.
"I would say so," Alonso said. "I would say that he's very comfortable, very confident playing in that position. He has the intelligence to play there. He has the intelligence to connect with team-mates around in the middle to know what's the best thing before and after you get the ball. And he has this awareness. I remember seeing him play very well in the middle. So yes, we are using him. He will have a lot of minutes in there as a first midfielder."
The plan to deploy James centrally has drawn scrutiny from sections of the Chelsea fanbase, who fear that relying on just five bodies — including a converted defender — for midfield duties could prove costly across a demanding campaign. Alonso, however, dismissed concerns that his squad lacks the necessary depth to cope with the rigors of the season.
"We have this feeling with the squad that we are good to go," the Spaniard explained. "If we have these setbacks in the season with injuries and suspensions, we have this feeling that we will be able to manage. Time will tell, but at the moment he's having a very important role in that position. I knew [before I joined] that he could play there."
James' transformation into a midfield option has not come as a surprise to Alonso, who indicated he was already aware of the England international's versatility before taking charge at Stamford Bridge. The 26-year-old's ability to read the game and link play effectively has convinced the manager that shifting him inward is a viable long-term solution, rather than simply a stopgap measure necessitated by squad limitations.
Aside from discussing his midfield reshuffle, Alonso also touched on a piece of his own personal history ahead of Chelsea's upcoming trip to face reigning champions Arsenal on Sunday. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder was twice the subject of transfer interest from Arsenal during his playing days, with Arsene Wenger attempting to lure him to the Emirates in both 2008 and 2009. Those pursuits ultimately fell through, reportedly because Liverpool felt Arsenal's offers did not match their valuation of the player.
Asked to reflect on those near-moves, Alonso kept his answer brief and light-hearted. "Those are old stories," he said, smiling. "Every summer many things happen, like this summer. 20 years ago they were busy. I can't go into details."
With midfield reinforcements no longer arriving through the transfer market, much of Chelsea's fortunes this season may hinge on how successfully James adapts to his expanded role, and whether Alonso's faith in his squad's resilience is vindicated when injuries or suspensions inevitably strike.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.