West Ham United were keen to sign highly-rated right-back Reece James from Premier League and London rivals Chelsea.
Chelsea rejected an enquiry from London rivals West Ham United for highly-rated defender Reece James before the transfer window slammed shut almost two weeks ago, according to the Telegraph.
It is no secret that James, like Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham, has a big part to play in a new-look Chelsea side now coached by club legend Frank Lampard.
The 19-year-old was outstanding during a loan spell at Wigan Athletic last season with Championship survival and a place in the Team of the Season just rewards for a player who looked a cut above in the second tier.
In any other era, James might have been forced out on loan again but Lampard is determined to give youth a chance and this bodes well for a muscle-bound teenager who has won two Premier League 2 titles with the Blues.
The Telegraph claims that West Ham were interested in signing James this summer, potentially to replace the erratic Ryan Fredericks and the ageing Pablo Zabaleta on the right-hand side of Manuel Pellegrini’s defence. But they never had a chance.
Chelsea rejected as much as £25 million from Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace, according to the Independent and they will even loan Davide Zappacosta, an experienced Italian international, to Roma in order to make room for James in West London.
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