Chelsea transfer: Barcelona to rival Inter for Blues left-footer

By Lee Clarke

Inter Milan remain keen on signing Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso this summer, but they now face competition from Barcelona, according to the Sunday People (Print Edition; page 59).

The 30-year-old could be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. He does have a contract until June 2023 at the London-based club but is available for around £7 million.

Inter are prioritising a deal for Alonso, with Achraf Hakimi set to sign for PSG. Barcelona are keen to strengthen though and also fancy the Spaniard.

Alonso has been at Chelsea for five years. In 166 appearances, he has found the net 24 times and claimed 17 assists. He has largely played left-back but also takes on the wing-back role nicely.

With Thomas Tuchel likely to spend some money this summer, some players will need to leave. Alonso has fallen down the pecking order under the Frenchman and was an unused substitute in the Champions League Final.

At £7 million, Chelsea won’t recoup a fortune on the left-footed player. The Blues would, however, get £100,000-a-week off their wage budget if he were to leave.

Letting Alonso leave makes perfect sense for Chelsea

Ben Chilwell’s prominence has bumped Alonso down the pecking order and as a result, now looks like a good time to let him leave.

At 30 he will slowly begin to decline in the coming years and Chelsea would be better off getting a younger player in as a backup to Chilwell.

Alonso hasn’t been a bad player for the Blues down the years. The time is right to offload him though and both Inter and Barcelona would provide him with attractive propositions.