According to reports from Sport, Premier League side Chelsea are set to battle FC Barcelona for the signature of Porto’s star left-back, Alex Telles.
The 27-year-old Brazilian has been in sensational form since signing for Porto after an impressive season with Inter Milan. Furthermore, he has helped Porto to two second-place finishes and one Liga NOS title. Porto are currently first-place in the league.
As a result, the big boys from Europe are calling his name. Will he move, or will he stay at Porto?
Chelsea v Barcelona: The Telles Battle
Have Chelsea Found a Cheaper Alternative to Ben Chilwell?
Chelsea were originally thought to have had their sights set on Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell. However, his reported €90 million price tag has turned the Blues elsewhere. Alex Telles is reported to have only a €40 million price tag.
The good thing for both Chelsea and Barcelona in Telles’ case is that his contract expires in 2021. Unless Porto can renew his dwindling contract, he will have to be sold to another club to prevent him leaving for free next summer.
The Blues are pursuing a player like Telles’ in hopes of strengthening their left-back options, with Marcos Alonso not playing to his 2016/17 heights in recent seasons.
Chelsea have also been linked with their transfer rival’s former left-back, Marc Cucurella. He currently plies his trade at La Liga club Getafe. Moreover, that very player’s departure might just push Barcelona to sign Telles before Chelsea so they can strengthen that position.
Barcelona Might Just Have Their Jordi Alba Replacement
Many of Barcelona’s squad is ageing. Their star left-back is no exception.
Jordi Alba just recently turned 32. Furthermore, with Quique Setien set to take Barcelona forward with many of their best players reaching their early-to-mid 30s, Telles might just be the younger option to spark an overhaul in the future: an overhaul that Barca will need in the next couple of seasons.
The aforementioned Marc Cucurella may just also be a reason why Barcelona are looking at Alex Telles. The 21-year-old was the next big thing in Barcelona’s full-back places.
However, after limited game time at Barca B, he impressed on loan at Eibar. This landed him a move to Getafe, where he has played 26 times in La Liga. He’s even landed on the scoresheet, as well as grabbing four assists in a season halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
It is unlikely that Cucurella will want to return to a club that doesn’t guarantee him regular playing time. So, Barcelona have turned to the Brazilian Liga NOS star.
How Likely is Either Transfer for Telles?
With Porto not being a huge competitor in European competition, the desire for European football, as well as a new, more competitive league will attract Telles.
His respectable price tag will make these two mega-rich clubs push for his signature even more, and any player would at least consider the option of moving to either Chelsea or Barcelona. However, in terms of where he’d get the most playtime and the best experience in the short term, Chelsea is his best bet.
Jordi Alba is still a class player for Barcelona. Although Telles could potentially push for starts at left-back every week like Frenkie de Jong is right now in the centre of the park, one can’t guarantee that happening.
Chelsea looks like his best option right now.
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