Chelsea have become immediately light in central midfield. Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson are injured, and the Blues failed to replace Enzo Fernandez; Reece James is providing cover.<\/strong><\/p>\n Lamine Camara, Manu Kone, and even Fulham\u2019s Sander Berge were all linked<\/a> with Chelsea<\/a> on the final day of the window, but Chelsea could not get a new signing through the door. Chelsea have five options.<\/p>\n Caicedo will be first choice when he returns, but he is still injured. Romeo Lavia is yet to complete 90 minutes competitively, Valentin Barco is not trusted<\/a>, and Henderson is still looking to recover his fitness.<\/p>\n Then there is Reece James<\/a>. The skipper saw out the entire 90 minutes at The Emirates on Sunday in the middle of the park, ending the game with Malo Gusto. But where is James better: midfield or right-back?<\/p>\n Over the weekend, William Gallas said he prefers James at right-back<\/a>. The Frenchman said that managers like to try new things, but that Alonso is wrong to continually use James in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n Do you prefer James in midfield or at right-back \u2013 and why?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n It comes after James has started three of Chelsea\u2019s four games in midfield, while coming on in the win over Brighton as a midfielder. Alonso believes James can become one of the best midfielders in the world.<\/p>\n He said last week: \u201cI would say so [on becoming one of the best midfielders in the world]. He\u2019s very comfortable and confident playing in that position. He has the intelligence to play there, in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n James has shown he can be effective in both positions, without a doubt. But John Terry<\/a> has agreed with his old teammate Gallas, telling his YouTube channel on Monday night that James is better at right-back.<\/p>\n \u201cI see Reece as a right-back. We\u2019ve always been blessed with really good right-backs during my time at Chelsea. Glen Johnson, Paulo Ferreira, William Gallas, Branislav Ivanovic, Cesar Azpilicueta,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a great player; we all love him and admire him. We\u2019re very lucky to have him. We\u2019ve seen him play a lot more in midfield in the current side at the moment; I really like him at right-back,\u201d Terry continued.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he is at right-back, I think he\u2019s the best right-back in the world.\u201d On playing with James, the Blues legend remarked: \u201cWe would have certainly been a force to be reckoned with, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n With Caicedo and Henderson missing, and Barco yet to be entrusted with a starting role in the Premier League, Alonso has little choice but to use James in midfield. When all are fit, he may return to right-back.<\/p>\n But without James in midfield at the moment, Chelsea would be left with Gusto \u2013 who is even more of a makeshift midfielder than James- and Lavia, who is struggling to go past the hour mark competitively.<\/p>\n This is why Chelsea needed a midfield signing, with the club still fuming with Monaco for blocking the late \u00a347m deal for Camara<\/a>. Don\u2019t be surprised to see Chelsea do an out-of-window deal for a midfielder.<\/p>\n![\"Cole](\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2293835024-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/div>John Terry agrees with William Gallas on Reece James\u2019 position<\/h2>\n
Let\u2019s settle this, Chelsea are better off with Reece James at right-back\u2026 \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-1-819x1024.png\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\nTerry disagrees: James is best in the world at right-back<\/h2>\n
![\"John](\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282752068-2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/div>Alonso may agree with Terry, but his hand has been forced<\/h2>\n