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Chelsea have offered a new long-term deal to 19-year old full-back Reece James.
The teenager enjoyed a stand-out season on loan with Wigan Athletic, and despite the Lancashire side having to battle relegation for much of the campaign, he was named in the Championship team of the year. He even captained Wigan in his last game for the club for whom he featured in every league game.
James is seen as the long-term replacement to Cesar Azpilicueta, and his progress this season has not gone unnoticed further afield, with reports that both Manchester United and a number of Bundesliga clubs have been monitoring his situation.
Having made his first-team debut in last week’s friendly against New England Revolution, James is set to be offered a new deal on substantially better terms and with assurances given over first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge next season for the England under-20 international.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.