Chelsea boss Frank Lampard seems to have made up his mind on the need for a new left-back in the form of Ben Chilwell and success in that endeavour will likely mean the end of Marcos Alonso’s stint at Stamford Bridge with the player unlikely to accept a guaranteed bench role.
Newcastle United are reportedly keen on signing the former Fiorentina man with the club hoping to get a huge funding boost after the expected lucrative takeover by the Saudi Arabian consortium.
With matters at St.James Park getting interesting, the Magpies have made Alonso their first target in a bid to raise their levels in the coming seasons. According to the Sun, the 29-year-old still has three years left on his Chelsea contract and the Blues would be looking for a fee of around the £26million mark for the buccaneering side-back.
Though Marcos Alonso was at the receiving end of the boos by the Toon Army last October for scoring the only goal when the two sides met, his will surely be a welcome signing if any move indeed materialises.
Marcos Alonso: A good option for the club?
Newcastle United currently have Danny Rose as a temporary solution for their left-back woes but his loan spell is expected to end this season. Even though there could be talks of a permanent deal, Newcastle seem interested in exploring other options they consider better before entering any extension talks with the England international.
Marcos Alonso is excellent going forward and he has shown his goal-scoring pedigree time and again for Chelsea over the years. His forays into the opposition penalty area are impeccably timed and his finishing is of top quality. But for the Spaniard to flourish, Newcastle need a progressive set-up in place as far as their gameplay is concerned.
And that will be only possible in the event of a successful takeover which is yet to be finalised. Alonso thrives with his team on the front foot and struggles when the opposition get going, especially when he is up against a nimble-footed winger on his flank.
If a deal materializes between Chelsea and Newcastle, the Magpies will also have a serious set-piece threat in their team, which they lack at the moment. Moreover, at 29, the player is at the peak of his career with proven abilities in the league and there could not be a better time to get hold of him from Newcastle’s point of view, who need quality match-winners who have a winning mentality to work towards their targets.
Looking at all options and possibilities, Marcos Alonso could be a great deal for Newcastle with Chelsea keen to get rid of him and the management would be sensible to not let go of this opportunity.