Biggest indication yet that Chelsea could give up on Pep Chavarria
Chelsea are still yet to sign a replacement for Marc Cucurella.
The Blues sold Cucurella to Real Madrid for £52 million at the start of the summer and may well regret that decision.
The Spain international has left a void at left-back, and so far, it’s one Xabi Alonso has struggled to fill.
Chelsea’s move for Pep Chavarria has stalled
The former Bayer Leverkusen boss has identified Pep Chavarria as his main target but the Blues are struggling to met Rayo Vallecano’s price tag.
The La Liga outfit will not let Chavarria leave unless his £42.4 million release clause is trigger. So far, Chelsea have offered significantly less than that and it could lead to the deal collapsing.
Although Chavarria is desperate to make the move to Stamford Bridge, unless the two clubs can find a suitable solution, the 28-year-old will see his dream disappear.
The Spanish defender is under contract at the Vallecas Stadium until 2030 so may have to wait beyond this summer for the chance to test himself in the Premier League.
Xabi Alonso finds alternative left-back
Due to the uncertainty surrounding Chavarria, Alonso has been forced to consider a possible alternative.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the new Chelsea manager is open to re-signing Alvaro Carreras from Real Madrid.
Alonso was in charge of Los Blancos when Carreras joined from Benfica in a deal worth £42 million last year.
Despite Alonso leaving the club just six months later, Carreras was a regular during the 44-year-old’s time in charge, featuring in 25 matches in all competitions.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s appointment complicated matters for 23-year-old. Fran Garcia was preferred with Carreras demoted to the bench. And things don’t look like changing under Jose Mourinho following Cucurella’s signing.
The former Chelsea defender — fresh from winning the World Cup — will undoubtedly be Real Madrid’s main left-back and that has left Carreras with a big decision to make: stay and feed off limited opportunities or seek a move elsewhere.
While Chelsea are unable to offer European football next season, they can offer Carreras the chance to work with Alonso again as well as much more playing time.
A reunion between Carreras and Alonso in west London would be a solution that works for all parties, including Madrid, who know they can’t offer the former Benfica star the platform he needs to continue his development.
The 23-year-old has five years left on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu and is valued at £50 million.
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