Chelsea have reportedly put Juventus star Alex Sandro on their transfer radar, as they look to strengthen the left-back position.
Juventus are looking to raise funds for new manager Andrea Pirlo, as per Italian website Corriere dello Sport, and could sell Sandro for a fee of €40 million
The Blues are reportedly after Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell, who is their preferred target, but the Foxes are demanding a hefty £80 million for the full-back, a fee that could be out of Chelsea’s reach.
Sandro will be a cheaper alternative to Chilwell, but face competition from Manchester City, who are also keen on the Brazilian international.
Alex Sandro – Player Profile
Sandro moved to Juventus five years ago from FC Porto, and has been an instrumental figure for his employers ever since. However, it is believed that Andrea Pirlo, the new manager of Juventus, considers Sandro to be surplus to his requirements.
Under the tutelage of Maurizio Sarri, the Brazilian left-back made 29 Serie A appearances in the recently concluded campaign, bagging one goal and three assists.
(Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
He also mustered 1.5 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game on an average, and has all the ingredients to be an asset for any top side.
A solid option for Lampard?
A left-back with an attacking mentality, Sandro has the pace to burn and is usually a calm and composed player with the ball at his feet. He excels at making surging runs into the final third and whipping the ball into the box, making him an effective modern-day full-back.
Sandro’s pace also helps him in the defensive side of things, as it enables him to get back and make the recovery tackles when the need arises.
The Premier League is a bit more physical than the Serie A, and Sandro will be tested. He is a good player in one vs one situations, however, and is more likely to adjust to the physicality to the Premier League considering his physique and experience.
At Chelsea, Sandro will not only be a top option as a left-back in a four-man backline but owing to his tenacity and speed, he could also operate as a left-sided defender in a three-man defence as well as a left wing-back. He is dynamic, flexible and has plenty of experience under his belt.
Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso have been largely inconsistent and their poor positioning on a number of occasions did the defence no favours last season.
Sandro, with his astute defensive traits, will definitely be an upgrade over the current left-backs in the Chelsea squad.
Statistics Credits: Whoscored