Transfer Rumors: Chelsea Clears Air On Future Of Fullback Despite Links To Hakimi

Manchester City has a couple of targets this transfer window in Harry Kane and Jack Grealish.

With two big names on the list, it surprised some to learn that the Sky Blues also have their sights on Reece James of Chelsea.

It is possible that James could be a backup in the event they fall short in their chase for Kane and Grealish.

According to sources of The Athletic, a reason behind the interest is that Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of the right-back.

But this early, Manchester City may have to look for someone else. It appears the Blues do not have any plans of selling the English fullback despite the team’s growing interest in Achraf Hakimi of Inter Milan, talkSport reported.

In the report, Chelsea has reportedly told Man City that Reece is not for sale. The 21-year-old remains an integral part of the Blues' future plans even if there is a possibility that he could fall down the ranks if Hakimi joins the team.

James appears to have no qualms with that for now. He is aware that the change at the helm factors in significantly and that he just needs to prove that he deserves a spot in the lineup.

“At the start of the season we had Frank Lampard and I was very lucky to play the majority of the games under him but when our new manager came in our style of play and formation changed. It was a big learning curve,” Reece stated.

In all, James appears ready to take on the challenge and fit himself into the system of Tuchel.

James has been around the sport to know how it works. He knows an opportunity will eventually come and he will just wait for that to happen.

"These moments come around quite often in football. Things happen so fast, I don't really get advice from anyone. I was just wanting to train and carried on working hard, and when I got more opportunity I knew I had to take it," he explained.