Chelsea would like to keep Marcos Alonso’ ‘at all costs’ amid Barcelona and Inter Milan transfer interest.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is not thought to be keen on the idea of losing left back Alonso this summer.
Alonso, who had been out in the cold under former boss Frank Lampard, was recalled under Tuchel and ended the season rotating with Ben Chilwell for minutes at left wing-back – a battle largely won by the Englishman.
read also:Barcelona reignite interest in Chelsea defender Alonso
But according to Mundo Deportivo, the Blues are keen to retain his services for the season ahead.
Barca are soon to be requiring a left-back, with Junior Firpo set for a move to Leeds United.
And the Catalan giants have long admired Alonso.
They tried to sign him in January, and reportedly even reached an agreement with the player himself, who had been out in the cold in West London at the time.
But following Frank Lampard’s dismissal, replacement Thomas Tuchel brought Alonso back into the fold.
And the German values the 30-year-old as an important squad player.
The report states that Tuchel feels appreciates Alonso’s versatility and could play him on the left of his back three if required.
Jordi Alba has long been Barcelona’s undisputed first-choice left-back.
But with Inter Milan chasing Alba’s services, boss Ronald Koeman may soon find himself needing another option.
If Inter miss out on Alba, however, they could opt to go after Alonso as an alternative.
Although the Blues are set to dig their heels in.
Alonso joined Chelsea from Fiorentina in 2016, winning the Premier League under Antonio Conte in his first season.
He has gone on to make 166 appearances for the club, scoring 24 goals and laying on 17 assists.
After a shocking performance against West Brom last September, Alonso didn’t even make the bench again in the Premier League until Tuchel’s first game in charge in January.
After that point, he rotated with first-choice Ben Chilwell.