Real Madrid are reportedly contemplating whether to renew their interest in Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong.
Los Blancos began the season with Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez as their options in the right-back position, both players now entering the status of a veteran.
However, Carlo Ancelotti was recently dealt a blow as Carvajal - the standout first choice of the two - suffered a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.
The Italian now faces the task of juggling players in that position, it highly unlikely that Vasquez will be used on a regular basis in that role without a rest.
In the short term, Eder Militao can be used as an alternative, but Real are not exactly stacked with options in the middle of their defence.
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Real to press ahead with Acheampong move?
According to The Independent, president Florentino Perez is open to making a formal bid for Acheampong during the January transfer window.
With Carvajal and Vazquez 32 and 33 years of age respectively, there is an acknowledgment that Real ultimately need to sign a younger player as a long-term replacement.
Acheampong has only made two senior appearances for Chelsea - a late cameo against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League in May and a 27-minute outing versus Barrow in the EFL Cup last month.
Nevertheless, the teenager is highly regarded behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge and there are plans for more outings before the end of the year.
Chelsea have a minimum of six matches in the EFL Cup and Conference League for the England Under-20 international to feature, albeit with some games realistically targeted for Reece James to step up his return from a hamstring injury.
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Why Real are in a favourable position
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley - the two sporting directors at Chelsea - indicated earlier this week that they do not like selling homegrown talent and judge situations by their merits.
Acheampong currently only holds a contract until 2026 at a time when James and Malo Gusto - neither of them above the age of 24 - are ahead of him in the pecking order.
At Real, there is a potential pathway for him to earn more minutes than he would at Chelsea, at least in the long term given he could be used as competition for Carvajal upon his return from injury next season.
Much may depend on how much game time he receives before the January transfer window, Chelsea potentially having a decision to make over whether they wish to give their position with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations a substantial boost.
Darren Plant
