Chelsea defender Malo Gusto has found himself on the periphery at Stamford Bridge for much of this season and with Xabi Alonso’s inclination towards Reece James and Marco Palestra at right back, the French star could leave the club next year.
Liverpool and Manchester City have been credited with interest in Gusto’s services, especially the latter as Enzo Maresca looks to reunite with the player he worked with in London some months ago. That said, the Blues are already searching for replacements.
Simon Phillips has reported that Real Madrid star Trent Alexander-Arnold has emerged as a prospective target for Chelsea ahead of next year, as Xabi Alonso looks to raid his former employers for one of the world’s best rated right backs.
Madrid signed Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool last year. The 28-year-old is valued at £50 million on Transfermarkt and having largely been out of Jose Mourinho’s plans at the Santiago Bernabeu, he could consider returning to the Premier League.
Alexander-Arnold move a strong possibility next summer
For much of the campaign, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been second fiddle behind Denzel Dumfries, while more recently, even Federico Valverde, naturally a central midfielder, has been used at right back ahead of the former Liverpool star.
While his first year at Real Madrid was marred by injuries, Jose Mourinho’s inclination towards defensively superior players at full back has seen Alexander-Arnold struggle for minutes and a move to Chelsea next summer may be on the cards.
Real Madrid are unlikely to let the player leave midway through the season as they could be alive in three competitions in the second half of the campaign, but a summer rejig remains possible, especially if Mourinho stays beyond this season.
Xabi Alonso might prefer using Alexander-Arnold as a wing-back, where his passing and creativity would be better utilised, while masking his defensive shortcomings. At the same time, the English star would return to a familiar setting in his homeland.
Given that Real Madrid signed the full back as a free agent and paid a nominal fee before last year’s FIFA Club World Cup to bring him in earlier, Alexander-Arnold’s £50 million valuation might be a fair indicator of what Chelsea may need to pay to get a deal done for him.
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