Chelsea have reportedly identified Alex Telles, who is valued at around £40 million by FC Porto, as an alternative to Ben Chilwell.
According to a report by Goal, Chelsea are keeping their options open in case they fail to secure the services of Ben Chilwell in the summer transfer window. Alex Telles has emerged on the radar of the Premier League heavyweights, who will have to shell out £40 million to land the Brazilian left-back.
Telles joined FC Porto from Galatasaray in the summer of 2016 for a low-money deal. Over the last four years, the Brazilian defender has progressed considerably, growing into one of the best full-backs playing in Europe.
The 2019-20 season has been quite a productive one for Telles, who has a superb return of 10 goals and 9 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions. His performances have unsurprisingly attracted some of the biggest clubs in the world, with Chelsea showing an interest.
Chelsea are set to be busy in the summer transfer window to bolster their squad. Left-back appears to be one of the areas that need to be addressed by Frank Lampard, especially with Emerson Palmieri failing to make an impression.
Marcos Alonso has enjoyed a resurgent run of late, but the Spaniard has also been in and out of the side all through the season, forcing Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta to play as a left-back plenty of times. While Azpilicueta could well be an option next season as well, the Blues will still need another left-back to solidify Lampard’s full-back resources.
As a result, Ben Chilwell has been named as a target for Chelsea, who are set to prioritise a move for the English international. However, the Leicester City full-back is also being tailed by other Premier League clubs, while the fact that his contract still has over four years remaining means the west Londoners will have to shell out a high amount to secure his services.
In such a scenario, Chelsea are identifying possible alternatives for Chilwell, with Telles emerging as a contingency. At 27, the Brazilian defender is at the peak of his powers, meaning he would offer his best years to the Premier League heavyweights.
Chelsea, though, will have to meet FC Porto’s £40 million to land Telles. The Brazilian left-back has less than 18 months left on his current deal at the Portuguese club and is unlikely to renew terms, which is why the Dragoes are eager to cash in on him.
It now remains to be seen if Chelsea do turn their attention towards Telles for good in the summer transfer window, or if they push ahead with their pursuit of Chilwell. For now, it looks like the Premier League giants are rightly keeping their options open.
