Chelsea are thinking about how to replace Marc Cucurella following the defender’s move to Real Madrid.
Chelsea could simply sign a new left-back to succeed Cucurella, who has left Stamford Bridge after a four-year spell.
However, the Blues also have in-house options, namely Jorrel Hato. The Dutchman can play at left-back and centre-back and really impressed in the second half of last season.
Xabi Alonso has the option of taking a punt on one of the club’s youth players, too.
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 🇪🇸
Split image of Chelsea's Jorrel Hato and Newcastle United's Lewis Hall
Credit: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside/Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Chelsea think Landon Emenalo could become first-team left-back one day
It is unlikely that he is brought into the fold now, but one Chelsea youngster who is highly rated by the club is Landon Emenalo, the son of former technical director Michael Emenalo.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea have earmarked Emenalo as a possible candidate for the left-back position in the future.
For now, though, there is recognition that the under-21 player still needs more time to develop.
Landon Emenalo of Chelsea U21
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
With that in mind, everything is pointing towards Chelsea signing a new left-back to alternate with Hato. The likes of Lewis Hall, Maxi Araujo and Alejandro Grimaldo have all been linked with the Club World Cup holders.
Grimaldo is someone Alonso knows well after working with the Spaniard at Bayer Leverkusen. It has even been claimed that Alonso has now recommended Grimaldo to the Chelsea board.
It would be great if Chelsea could get another academy player like Emenalo into the first team, just as they did with Reece James seven years ago. Supporters adore a local lad, but Emenalo is probably going to have to bide his time.
He has a lot of potential, though, earning a couple of caps for the England Under-19 team. In the future, perhaps the Stamford Bridge faithful will get to see him appear under Alonso. Landon Emenalo’s progress is definitely something to keep track of if you are a Chelsea fan.
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