Exclusive: Chelsea consider selling Reece James in January as 'vastly reduced' price tag set

• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

Since Enzo Maresca’s appointment in the summer, Chelsea captain Reece James has made just four appearances for the club, playing a total of 241 minutes.

James has been plagued by injuries at Chelsea in recent years, and has now suffered a fresh hamstring issue which ruled him out of the 2-1 win over Leicester City.

Maresca said it was only something small, but it’s certainly been a frustrating time for the 24-year-old defender.

That being said, TBR Football understands that Chelsea are ready to consider allowing James to leave the club.

Malo Gusto has taken Reece James’ spot at Chelsea

James is still highly-regarded at Chelsea, but his constant injury worries are making it difficult for the club to include him in their plans.

His understudy, Malo Gusto, has become a hugely important part of Maresca’s side, a versatile defender with an excellent availability record.

As a result, Gusto is set for a major pay rise at Chelsea – a player with a long future at Stamford Bridge.

Gusto has become a firm fixture for Maresca and has actually started more games this season than James has managed over the past two campaigns at Chelsea.

James has started just four league games in the last 12 months, a player plagued by hamstring issues.

Chelsea set their asking price for Reece James

The Chelsea captain had surgery in 2023 which also curtailed his progress in terms of his international career – James hasn’t played for England since March 2023.

James is under contract with Chelsea until 2028 but Chelsea are considering what to do with him in the long-term and whether a fresh start might be best for both parties.

READ MORE: Enzo Maresca says ‘fantastic’ Chelsea player has shocked everyone this season

The 24-year-old is still recognised as one of the best right backs in the world when fit, and the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are confirmed admirers.

To that end, TBR are told that Chelsea may now consider allowing James to leave for a vastly reduced fee to entice any club making a bid.

James could possibly be let go for less than £20m, but any potential deal could include clauses that accumulate into a more realistic figure, depending on how much he plays.

The situation has got to the point where Chelsea are actively doing work that could potentially see another right-back come in, and they believe that having three potential first-choice options in the squad is not sustainable for any club.