Chelsea will have to pay £52 million if they are to sign Juventus full-back Alex Sandro in the summer
According to Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard, Chelsea have been told to cough up £52 million in order to secure the services of Juventus’ highly-rated left-back Alex Sandro in the summer.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a breathtaking spell in Turin and has become the Old Lady’s first-choice left-back after the departure of Patrice Evra. Sandro also played a key role in guiding his team to the Champions League final this past season.
While he has established himself as a first-team regular at Juventus, the club are willing to listen to offers for him and will part ways with him should the adequate sum of money be put forth on the table for him.
Italian publication La Stampa reported that the player’s agent was in London last week and was in talks with the Chelsea hierarchy over a potential move in the summer. It also stated that the Blues were willing to offer €40 million, but were some way off Juve’s valuation of the player.
Sandro has experience of playing in a back three as well as a back four – which has seen Antonio Conte show an avid interest in services. The Italian deployed a 3-4-3 en route to the Premier League title this past season, and is not likely to change his system.
Summer signing Marcos Alonso operated as a wing-back in the 2016/17 season, and was one of the club’s standout performers. The Spaniard went on from being a flop at Sunderland, to a key figure in Chelsea’s title-winning campaign.
However, Conte did not have any like-for-like replacements for the defender, and had to recall Nathan Ake from a loan spell at Bournemouth. However, Ake is uncomfortable playing as a wing-back and so is academy product Ola Aina.
Thus, the interest in Sandro makes a lot of sense for the London side as they are looking to retain the Premier League next season and also put up a fight in the Champions League after a one-year absence.
The player is understood to be offered a new contract by Juventus, but is contemplating the decision, particularly due to Chelsea’s interest in his services. If the Blues can shell out the £52 million, Sandro may well be donning the Blue at Stamford Bridge next season.
Still only 26, the Brazilian could offer football at the top level for at least the next seven to eight years, and be one of Chelsea’s better signings of recent years. He is likely to be offered a better package, and the prospect of playing Premier League football might tempt him to make a switch.
However, with Juve naming their asking rate, Chelsea will have to act quick as there is competition for securing the player’s services. The likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester City are all in the hunt for Sandro, and could table bids within the foreseeable future.
