Chelsea are looking for a left-back as well as a centre-back in Italy and latest reports suggest that the Blues are talking to Fiorentina in order to sign former Bolton Wanderers left-back Marcos Alonso, who has had two excellent seasons with the Viola.
Reputed Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed that Fiorentina have had contacts with Chelsea over a possible transfer involving Marcos Alonso. There has been talk of a transfer fee of €20 million plus bonuses, but these are initial stages of negotiations and there is likely to be further contact in the coming days.
Surprisingly, Chelsea have failed to secure a single player from Italy this season despite being linked with a host of names including Radja Nainggolan, Kostas Manolas and most prominently, Kalidou Koulibaly. Roma and Napoli have thus far been able to keep the Blues at bay.
Marcos Alonso is one of the best left-backs in the peninsula alongside Empoli’s Eliseid Hysaj and Bologna’s Adam Masina, and Chelsea will likely not get him cheaply given Fiorentina — much like their Neapolitan counterparts — drive a hard bargain.
Alonso, who came up with the Real Madrid youth system, has played mostly as a wing-back in Paulo Sousa and Vincenzo Montella’s 3-5-2 formation at Fiorentina. However, the 25-year-old has experience playing in a traditional four-man back line as well. Antonio Conte can try and accommodate him as a left-back at Chelsea as well as on the left side of central midfield, as he is very good with the ball at his feet.
Fiorentina have had mixed transfer dealings with Chelsea in the recent past. The Serie A side sold Juan Cuadrado to Chelsea in January 2015, while Mohamed Salah joined the Viola for a very successful half-season.
However, the Egypt international eventually moved to Roma after the completion of his loan deal and the Fiorentina management were reportedly not happy with either the player or Chelsea. It now looks like Chelsea are set to do business once again with Fiorentina, and an update regarding the Alonso talks is expected in the coming days.
