According to a recent report by Spanish news outlet Sport, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to be quite interested in acquiring the services of Porto left-back Alex Telles in the summer. Frank Lampard’s current options in the position include Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri, but neither of them has managed to find any consistency this season. The report suggests that the Blues have also been keeping an eye on Leicester City man Ben Chilwell.
It has been claimed that Chelsea will have to ward off competition from Catalan giants Barcelona for his services in the summer. The report also suggested that the Brazilian international speedster has refused to sign a new contract at Porto, meaning that the chances of him joining one of the suitors in the summer looks fairly high. The Blues’ search for a left-back has been no secret, and the addition of an attack-minded option will undoubtedly be running on Frank Lampard’s mind.
Why Is Alex Telles Such An Attractive Option For Chelsea?
The Brazilian first broke through the ranks at Gremio, before Galatasaray eventually scouted him as a budding talent. The full-back’s spell on loan at Inter Milan from the Turkish club is arguably what sparked recognition from some of the bigger teams in the continent. Since finally making his career-defining move to Portuguese giants Porto in 2016, the wide man’s progress and development have been rapid.
Since joining the Portuguese club for a nominal fee in today’s footballing environment, Telles has gone on to become one of the most important players at the club. The dangerous full-back has contributed towards more than 70 goals in his 183 match Porto career.
It must be conceded that most full-backs don’t register numbers like this. The experienced defender tends to work his socks off on the pitch and is undoubtedly one of the most willing runners in the continent as well.
Why Chelsea Must Beat Barcelona To Telles In The Summer
Telles boasts an extremely well-balanced skill-set that would be quite suited to the Premier League game. There’s no need to question the 27-year-old’s ability to defend, while his attacking numbers showcase that he’s excellent going forward as well. Although playing in England will surely be different compared to the more tactical nature of the Portuguese game, Telles does seem to have the right attributes to slot right into Lampard’s attacking system.
The Blues’ current left-back options certainly haven’t filled the manager with confidence, and Lampard has been rather vocal about his desire to acquire another one. Although players like young Ben Chilwell have also been linked, the gaffer will do well to secure the signing of Alex Telles. Emerson and Alonso, the two Chelsea full-backs are polar opposites of each other – while one only wants to defend, the other can’t seem to stop attacking. Hence, Telles would be the best option to balance the two aforementioned requirements at the club.
