Transfer News: Chelsea show interest in Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco
Chelsea’s list of transfer targets seems to keep growing, now that the Blues are more focused on the transfer market following their backroom reshuffle. A winger is definitely on the agenda at SW6 and Atletico Madrid’s Yannick Carrasco is the latest name that has emerged on that front.
According to Spanish outlet AS via Sport Witness (h/t football.london), Chelsea have “knocked on” Carrasco’s door to explore the possibility of a move this summer.
The Blues are not the only club vying for the 28-year-old, with Manchester United also keeping a close eye. Atletico boss Diego Simeone has apparently advised the club’s hierarchy to not entertain any offers for Carrasco, regardless of his list of suitors.
Although Carrasco is not pushing for a move, it is believed that the general feeling between him and his entourage is that the player is not paid enough in comparison to the current standards of the football market.
Carrasco had 6 goals and 7 assists in 44 appearances for Atletico last term and since returning from his spell in China, the Belgian has re-established himself as an integral part of Simeone’s plans.
Chelsea also have Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling in their mind, so in case an agreement is reached for the England superstar, a big-money move for another winger will not seem likely then.
Can the deal realistically happen?
It doesn’t seem that way, at this stage. Carrasco is a very important player at Atletico Madrid, so it doesn’t make sense for him to consider a switch at this point, especially to an entirely new league altogether.
Carrasco’s team-mate Saul just concluded a loan spell to forget at Chelsea, so the Belgian will be well aware of the adaptability issues a switch to England may bring. Moreover, it would be interesting to imagine where he would fit at the Bridge.
While he has played as a left wing-back for a good part of his time at Atletico, that position has been Ben Chilwell’s ever since he was signed from Leicester City – apart from a brief spell where Thomas Tuchel gave the nod to Marcos Alonso owing to Chilwell’s season-long ACL injury which he underwent surgery on last December.
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With the World Cup on the horizon, it also seems like a risk to give up the guarantee of regular game-time for a move that may or may not work out.
