It has been suggested that Xabi Alonso will have a lot of say when it comes to Chelsea’s transfer business this summer. This has been viewed as a positive by the supporters. Whatever the club’s model has been for the last four seasons has not worked out. Change is long overdue. And hopefully, the Spaniard has the eye for talent to turn it around.
One would expect Alonso to have a great understanding of the talents available in La Liga. And if the Spanish media are on the mark, he seems to have identified a former Real Madrid midfielder who would not cost Chelsea a big transfer fee, but could be a shrewd addition to their roster.
That might be more important than you think. This is a summer transfer window in which Chelsea will need to work smart. They do not have Champions League football next season and have posted record losses recently. So, BlueCo won’t have the financial flexibility they have had in the past.
Reports in Spain suggest that Alonso has identified Antonio Blanco of Alaves as a potential midfield addition for Chelsea this summer.
Who is Antonio Blanco?
Blanco came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, but was not able to make the grade there, like so many before and after him. In fact, he had left the club a couple of years before Alonso got the job.
Blanco has established himself as a steady midfielder at Alaves though. In fact, some of his numbers prove while Alonso could be interested in signing Blanco, if reports coming out of Spain are indeed accurate.
He has topped La Liga for midfielders when it comes to defensive contributions, tackles and interceptions. He is in the 99th percentile when it comes to recoveries.
So, no points for guessing which department Blancos shines. Now, it remains to be seen if Chelsea will make a serious push to sign him or not.
Would Blanco be a good addition for Chelsea?
Of course, midfield is one area where this Chelsea team could undergo a lot of changes in this summer window. A lot of their current players are being linked with moves away.
Obviously, the top candidate in that regard is Enzo Fernandez. He has been linked with the likes of Real Madrid, PSG, Arsenal and Manchester City. But he is not the only one by any means. Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos could end up leaving as well if the right offers arrive.
So, the Blues could find themselves looking for reinforcements. And someone like Blanco could prove to be a solid cover addition.
Sourav Mahanty
Sourav Mahanty has covered teams like Chelsea, Celtic, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and more over a career that has now lasted a decade. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, FanSided, The Sportster and aggregated through Bleacher Report and NewsNow. Outside of football, he is also interested in basketball, cricket and professional wrestling.
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