The Blues are always on the lookout for young English talent…
Chelsea have joined Arsenal and Crystal Palace in the race to sign Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings, according to the Daily Mail.
The paper suggests that the Blues are “keeping tabs” on the youngster, who is having an outstanding season at left-back in the Championship.
The Gunners have been looking at the defender for some time, and have apparently been told that the Englishman will cost them up to £10m – which may prove too much for the frugal Arsene Wenger.
Palace made a £3m bid for Mings on deadline day this summer, but Ipswich rejected the offer.
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Mings was on Southampton’s books until 2009 but was released when the club, then in League One, had to cut down their youth system. The 21-year-old has played mainly at left-back for Ipswich, following Aaron Creswell’s summer move to West Ham United, but is a natural centre-back.
Chelsea, while well stocked with talented young players, are keen to increase the number of English players in their team. The Blues currently only have two English starters in their side, and when John Terry retires, they will be reduced to one.
This could cause serious problems with both domestic and European “homegrown” quotas, so it’s no surprise to see the Blues’ pursuing any English talents which are available.