Chelsea transfer news: Bayern Munich-linked defender on 'three-man' shortlist of Marc Cucurella replacements

Chelsea person reportedly identified Bayer Leverkusen defender Alejandro Grimaldo arsenic a imaginable replacement for Marc Cucurella.

Although the Blues are allegedly not pushing to currency successful connected the Spain international, it has been wide claimed that he wishes to instrumentality to his homeland.

If 1 of La Liga's large 3 conscionable Chelsea's demands, a transportation is perceived to beryllium much apt to hap than not.

Chelsea already person Jorrel Hato arsenic a imaginable consecutive replacement for Cucurella, but the anticipation of caller caput manager Xabi Alonso deploying a backmost 3 means that a accepted wing-back could beryllium sought.

According to TEAMtalk, Grimaldo whitethorn beryllium targeted for a transportation to Stamford Bridge implicit the coming weeks.

Why whitethorn Alonso privation to motion Grimaldo?

Grimaldo was signed by Alonso for his archetypal play successful complaint of Bayer Leverkusen, 1 which resulted successful an historical unbeaten Bundesliga rubric triumph.

On an idiosyncratic note, Grimaldo contributed an unthinkable 10 goals and 15 assists, portion helium has present reached 30 goals and 45 assists from 145 appearances crossed each competitions.

The 12-cap Spain planetary is susceptible of playing each down the near flank, portion helium besides has the quality to beryllium deployed arsenic 1 of 2 fig 10s.

With 1 twelvemonth near connected Grimaldo's Bayer Leverkusen contract, helium volition inevitably person involvement from elsewhere, and Bayern Munich are among the clubs to person expressed an interest.

The study adds that Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso - arsenic reported elsewhere - and Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown are besides connected Chelsea's shortlist.

Grimaldo the Cucurella upgrade that Chelsea need

Owners BlueCo volition beryllium successful 2 minds implicit whether to determination for a subordinate who turns the property of 31 successful September.

However, determination is simply a wide accidental to motion a subordinate who is amended going guardant than Cucurella and marque a nett successful the process.

Despite a imaginable transportation interest for Grimaldo not being mentioned, Leverkusen chiefs are not successful a presumption to play hardball if the subordinate expresses a tendency to leave.

If Alonso intends to play with a backmost three, utilizing Hato arsenic a left-sided centre-back and having Grimaldo and Valentin Barco - who is expected to motion from Strasbourg - arsenic his 2 near wing-back options would tick a batch of boxes with Chelsea's fanbase.