Manchester United are reportedly plotting another raid on Chelsea, with Marcos Alonso being eyed as a defensive reinforcement.
According to the report by Spanish publication Don Balon, Jose Mourinho is looking to launch the offensive on former club Chelsea for the second successive summer transfer window. This time around, his attention has been zeroed in on Marcos Alonso, with the Portuguese eager to bolster his defence.
Marcos Alonso is the typical late bloomer in the footballing world. Having initially emanated from the Real Madrid youth setup, the player failed to establish himself at the Bernabeu, and his journey took him to Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Fiorentina before he returned to England with Chelsea in the summer of 2016.
Over the last two seasons, Alonso has been a vital cog in Antonio Conte’s first-team setup, and is now one of the first names on his team sheet. In particular, his eye for goal has been quite impressive, with the Spaniard scoring 13 goals in 74 appearances for Chelsea. Manchester United though, might come knocking in the summer.
The left-back slot at Old Trafford has been one that has been shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty in recent years. There seemed to be a completely different tale being recited at Manchester United for the longest part, with Ashley Young being a revelation in the role, and Luke Shaw looking to win back Jose Mourinho’s faith.
Shaw even seemed to be primed to earn a contract renewal, after impressing in a slew of strong outings. The last month or so though, has taken all that optimism out, with Shaw, in particular, being singled out by Mourinho after Manchester United beat Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend.
It is believed that the Portuguese manager is not completely happy with his options at the back, with the left-back slot a problem area, particularly considering Young is on the wrong side of 30 as well. A raid on Chelsea for Alonso could thus, be just the antidote that Mourinho and Manchester United need on the left side of defence.
At 27, the player would be able to offer Manchester United the best years of his career, which bodes well for Mourinho & co. His goalscoring and dead ball prowess will also be welcome at Old Trafford, although Chelsea might be unwilling to sell to their direct rivals.
The Blues have already seen one transfer to Manchester United go horribly wrong for them, and it goes without saying that Alonso would strengthen a side that has Premier League title aspirations. Manchester United though, are looking to tempt them into selling the player by lodging a £70 million bid.
What is certain is that Marcos Alonso’s star is on the rise, evidenced by his first call-up to the Spanish National Squad this week. It now remains to be seen if Manchester United can successfully raid Chelsea for a player who is considered by many to be among the best wing/full-backs in the Premier League.
