Chelsea are reportedly planning to hijack Manchester City’s move for Juventus superstar Dani Alves.
According to a report in The Guardian, Chelsea have planned discussions with the representatives of Dani Alves in an attempt to land the Juventus defender ahead of Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
Alves enjoyed a stellar eight-year spell with Barcelona, during which he laid his hands on every trophy there is to win at the club level, before moving to Juventus on a free transfer last summer. Life in Turin started on a stuttering note though, as a broken leg restricted his influence in the first half of the 2016/17 season.
Dani Alves asked to resign his contract with Juventus. Then he’ll have talks with Man City (pole position) and Chelsea. ?? #CFC #MCFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2017
However, Alves turned the campaign around remarkably as he established himself as a mainstay at the back for the Bianconeri in the second half of the season, making an impact on either ends of the pitch. In all, the Brazil international made 33 appearances across all competitions with a return of 6 goals and 7 assists.
But, Alves looks destined to end his spell with Juventus after just one season, with widespread reports claiming that he is all set to play Premier League football in the 2017/18 campaign. And in England, the 34-year-old has Manchester City and Chelsea vying for his signature.
At Etihad, Pep Guardiola is keen on a reunion with a player he groomed so successfully at Camp Nou with Barcelona. And following a below par campaign for Manchester City in which defence presented several problems to the Spaniard, he is set to bolster his back-line considerably this summer.
The right side of defence is a big priority after City parted ways with Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna at the end of the recently concluded season. Guardiola is, thus, eager to recruit two quality right-backs in the summer and has set his sights on Kyle Walker and Alves to fill those two positions.
However, Chelsea are set to challenge City for the services of Alves with the player’s representatives set to engage in discussions with the Premier League champions. Antonio Conte currently has Victor Moses as his only recognised option for the right wing-back slot, with Cesar Azpilicueta a better fit in the back-three.
The Nigerian enjoyed a resurgent campaign with the Blues in a makeshift role, thereby finally establishing himself as a key figure in the club’s first-team setup. But, with Chelsea set to compete on four fronts next season, it is imperative for Conte to have two quality options at his disposal.
Alves has experience at the top most level and is a true on-pitch leader, two qualities that could potentially make him an asset at either club, especially when they play in the Champions League. The player, though, seems keen on working under Guardiola yet again, as per the report.
Chelsea, therefore, have tough task on their hands to tempt Alves to making the switch to Stamford Bridge instead. Meanwhile, the report adds that a bid of £5 million may be enough for either club to secure his services, and it remains to be seen which club he chooses to play for with a summer exit from Juventus looming large.
