Man Utd take pole position in £60million transfer scrap for Ben Chilwell as Solskjaer builds side for title challenge

Posted Saturday, July 11, 2020 by Thesun.co.uk

MANCHESTER UNITED will battle it out with Chelsea and Man City for £60million Ben Chilwell.

The Leicester left-back has emerged as a major transfer target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this summer as the Red Devils boss builds a side to challenge for the title next season.

Man Utd are in pole position to sign Ben Chilwell - beating Chelsea

And the move will cast doubt over the future of Chilwell’s England team-mate Luke Shaw.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was convinced he had Chilwell lined up as part of his spending spree that has seen £80m pair Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech arrive.

The Blues are clearing the decks for more big-name reinforcements.

They are hopeful of selling left-back Emerson Palmieri to Inter Milan in a £15m deal.

City are also keen on landing Chilwell to replace Benjamin Mendy but United are moving into pole position for the 23-year-old England international.

Pep Guardiola is keen to boost the dethroned champions’ back four and a centre half to replace Vincent Kompany is his top priority.

However, Mendy has struggled with fitness issues and has failed to nail down a regular place at left back, rotating with Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko - a converted midfielder.

Losing Chilwell would be a big blow for Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers.

He is a Leicester academy graduate and has made 123 appearances for the club over five seasons.

Chilwell signed a new long term contract in October 2018 that runs out in 2024.

If successful, it will be the second time United will have raided Leicester’s defence in a year after landing Harry Maguire last summer for £80m.