Three replacements for Chelsea defender Alonso in January
Stefan Bienkowski
- 4 Oct 2021 13:36 BST
- 8 min read
Chelsea may be sitting top of the Premier League table at the moment but Thomas Tuchel will know the club will need a strong January transfer window to keep their momentum going.
The Stamford Bridge side rely on smart moves in the transfer window more than most clubs in the English top flight and making the most of January could prove crucial.
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To do that, the club will have to sell some fringe players and it seems as though Marcos Alonso could be one of the leading candidates, if recent reports are to be believed.
According to the Daily Star, Inter remain interested in the Spanish defender and would be keen on signing him in a few months time.
But who could Chelsea bring in to not only replace Alonso but to also strengthen that left-back position? Here are a few contenders.
Caio Henrique - Monaco
Signed from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for just £7.2 million, Caio Henrique has quickly established himself as a young and exciting full-back in Ligue 1 with Monaco.
Although Henrique’s debut season in the French top flight didn’t kick off according to plan after picking up an ankle injury that ruled him out for the first five league games, the left-back still managed to finish the season with 36 appearances and five assists.
The Brazilian defender has undoubtedly progressed this season too, with four assists in his first 14 games in all competitions. He’d be a smart, affordable signing that could put pressure on Ben Chilwell.
Renan Lodi - Atletico Madrid
Another Brazilian full-back who could make for a smart signing for Chelsea is Renan Lodi from Atletico Madrid.
Brought to Spain in 2019 by Atleti for no less than £18 million, Lodi quickly established himself as a regular in Diego Simeone’s side and has since bagged two goals and six assists in 86 games for the side.
Like Chilwell and Alonso, Lodi is best played as a wing-back and would slot into Tuchel’s system without too much trouble. However, the defender is currently valued at €27 million and would likely cost much more in January or next summer.
Abdou Diallo - Paris Saint-Germain
Although Abdou Diallo may have once been considered a traditional central defender, he has always had a knack for playing on the left flank and those talents have certainly been developed over the last two or three seasons.
When tasked with the role, Diallo can play as an effective left-back or wing-back with all the flair and attacking intent of a traditional full-back, while his ability to play in central defence will surely intrigue Chelsea even further. PSG clearly rate the player but they could be tempted into selling him if the right price is presented.
