Xabi Alonso and Chelsea are likely to sign a new left-back before the start of the new Premier League season.
The club recently announced that Marc Cucurella has joined Real Madrid, weakening the team in the left-back position.
Chelsea are now looking at Lewis Hall as a potential replacement, but the Newcastle United star is not the only left-sided defender being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Who would you rather see at left-back next season, Jorrel Hato or Lewis Hall?
Hall is being linked with a return to Chelsea following Marc Cucurella's move to Real Madrid 🇪🇸
Xabi Alonso recommends Alejandro Grimaldo to Chelsea board
Chelsea are also considering Alejandro Grimaldo, who played under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, and it looks like his former manager is the one driving the Blues’ interest in him.
According to TEAMtalk, Alonso has been “strongly advocating” the credentials of Grimaldo, who could be the ideal replacement for Cucurella.
Chelsea are losing a very experienced player following Cucurella’s departure. Cucurella is 27 now and has made over 300 appearances in his senior career.
Grimaldo is three years older than his compatriot and has played nearly 450 games since making his first-team debut.
Chelsea already have a very young squad, so Cucurella’s departure could be damaging. However, it is quite clear that Grimaldo can replace Cucurella’s experience.
Alejandro Grimaldo’s stats under Xabi Alonso
Grimaldo played as a left wing-back under Alonso and thrived in that role. His numbers show that.
In total, Grimaldo made 99 appearances while Alonso was in the Leverkusen dugout. He scored 16 goals and provided 33 assists, according to Transfermarkt.
If Alonso is going to use a 3-4-2-1 formation at Chelsea, Grimaldo could be the perfect replacement for Cucurella. Evidently, the Spain international is a massive threat going forward.
There is a good chance that Jorrel Hato becomes Cucurella’s successor after finishing last season so strongly. But even if he does, Alonso is going to need another option for the left-back or left wing-back position.
That man could be Grimaldo or Valentin Barco, who is set to join Chelsea from sister club Strasbourg.
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