Contrary to popular belief, the potential departure of Marcos Alonso isn't a situation that should be taken lightly. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Alonso is ready for a move to Barcelona and the Catalans are just as eager to sign him this summer. The report also highlights that the Spaniard is respectful to Chelsea so no decision has been made.
There is a weird debate amongst fans as to whether or not they'd like Alonso to stay. It's hard to let go of a player that has served the club for 5 years, but many are still quick to let him go. Others believe that he deserves a new contract or to at least see it out till it ends next season, and I understand why.
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Marcos Alonso started off his 2021/22 campaign reasonably well. With Ben Chilwell subject to the bench for Chelsea's first six Premier League games, it looked as though the Spaniard had found his famous 2016/17 form. Unfortunately, his peak did not last long as he began to frustrate the fans following a rather poor match in Chelsea's first tie against Juventus in the Champions League.
Ben Chilwell's return to the starting 11 was short-lived after tearing his ACL in the return fixture against Juventus a couple of months later. Since then, Alonso has struggled to replicate his form from the start of the season. But is that enough to warrant his departure? Under Antonio Conte, Chelsea fans had seen the best of the 31-year-old. Despite his lack of speed, his contribution to the attack made him a crucial player. Let's face it, in an alternate world, the man would definitely be a striker. He is also quite reliable when it comes to set-pieces.
It's not all gloom and despair with Alonso as some like to make out. He deserves some sort of contract extension, whether it be two years or one. He is still a steady backup option for when Chilwell inevitably returns. Bringing in a new left-back could disrupt the flow and would likely make it a much harder task for Chilwell. I love a bit of healthy competition, however, I'm not so sure if that's the main area that the Blues should focus on this summer anyway.
There are a few negatives in the Spaniard's game, yes. I can completely understand that. Sometimes it becomes frustrating to watch. It's actually strange, if you had asked me this time last year if we needed to replace Alonso I would have said yes. But with all the ambiguity and the number of replacements required in the transfer window this year, it'll be a smart option to keep him around. Chelsea potentially needs, two midfielders, two centre backs, a right-back, and another attacking forward. Those are the priorities. Taking Alonso out of the equation only makes the job harder for Thomas Tuchel.
