Transfer News: Atletico Madrid are keen on signing Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso
According to Marca, as relayed by SportsWitness (h/t Football.London), Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso is on the transfer radar of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
After the arrival of Ben Chilwell, Marcos Alonso has found himself as an unused substitute in several matches. The Spaniard used to be our first choice left-back a few seasons back and was a potent presence for us in attack.
However, times have changed, and players like Chilwell and Reece James have really upped their game on the wings. That has seen him become a second-choice left wing-back for Tuchel recently.
The two English full-backs started the season in emphatic fashion and were one of the top wing-back pairings in the league. However, after the injury of Chilwell in November, the situation started getting worse. His recent surgery ruled him out for the rest of the season, and that’s where we needed vintage Marcos Alonso.
Alonso to Atletico?
The Spaniard is the only recognized option that Tuchel has for the position and the German has been careful in managing his playing time. But Atletico Madrid are looking to test our patience. It is believed that Diego Simeone is a long-term admirer of the Real Madrid academy graduate and is eyeing to bring him back to Spain.
Alonso has already played 27 matches across all competitions in this campaign, which is an increase in the playing time he enjoyed last season by this time. He has failed to make himself one of the top full-backs in the continent, but his performances in the last few games haven’t been bad at all. Currently, he is the one player that separates us from having a full-blown selection crisis down the left flank of our defence.
Even though Chelsea managed to recall Kenedy from loan-spell, the Brazilian’s role as a first-team player at the Bridge is still uncertain. Tuchel tried using Malang Sarr and Saúl Ñíguez in Chilwell’s position but that didn’t have promising results.
Chelsea’s current dilemma with the left-back position suggests that any transfer involving Alonso might be tough to facilitate. But there is nothing solid regarding Chelsea’s stance on whether they want to sell the defender or not, and if they have long-term plans for him.
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Alonso is currently on a contract that expires in the summer of 2023.
