Barcelona is looking to add full-backs to both the right and left flanks. They have a shortlist of candidates for both jobs, with Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso being the top pick.
The 31-year-old has been trying to get a transfer to Spotify Camp Nou for a while, and Chelsea has frozen him out until he decides what to do with his future.
However, despite prolonged negotiations, he is no closer to a move to Catalonia as Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona and Chelsea are struggling to find an agreement for the Spanish international’s transfer.
Chelsea have been trying to include Alonso as part of the deal to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona. However, the Blaugrana are unwilling to accept such a proposal as they want the two operations to be separate.
With negotiations not progressing as planned, Barça could end up deciding to look away from Alonso completely. Celta Vigo’s Javi Galan has emerged as a potential alternative, although he would cost the Catalans a sum of around €18 million.
So, there could be a serious possibility that Barcelona do not sign a new left-back at all and stick with youngster Alejandro Balde as Jordi Alba’s substitute.
Manager Xavi Hernandez insisted in his pre-match presser ahead of the Real Valladolid game that the La Masia graduate is developing well, which could force the club to halt their search for a new left-back.
“Looking at Balde’s projection, it seems that we have a well-covered position,” Xavi said.
However, he refused to rule out a move for Alonso, saying: “You don’t listen to me. I said I would not rule out anything in the transfer market.”
So, it remains to be seen how things progress in the final few days of the transfer window. As things stand, though, Alonso’s move to Barcelona is looking complicated.
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