Chelsea have set their sights on Real Madrid fullback Álvaro Carreras this summer, with newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso reportedly requesting the signing.
The move comes after Marc Cucurella departed Stamford Bridge to join Real Madrid, leaving Chelsea needing reinforcement in the left-back position.
Carreras began his European journey at Real Madrid’s academy before joining Manchester United in the summer of 2020, where he caught the eye at youth level.
His path to the Manchester United first team was blocked by the presence of established options like Luke Shaw and Alex Telles, leading to loan spells away from Old Trafford.
After a temporary stint at Preston North End and a further loan at Granada, Carreras eventually sealed a permanent transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica.
It was at Benfica that Carreras truly announced himself as a top-level talent, racking up 68 appearances in all competitions and helping the club win the Portuguese Cup.
Those displays persuaded Real Madrid to bring him back to the Spanish capital last summer, and the fullback has since featured 28 times in La Liga and 40 times across all competitions.
According to SPORT, Chelsea have held exploratory talks over a deal, but their opening proposal of £21 million was firmly rejected by Madrid, who are demanding £43 million plus a further £8 million in add-on fees.
Chelsea are reportedly considering matching that valuation, with Alonso keen to use the promise of regular first-team football at Stamford Bridge as a key selling point.
The 23-year-old’s statistics underline why the Blues are so eager to secure his signature this summer transfer window.
Carreras averaged 3.40 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes last season, placing him in the 88th percentile among fullbacks in that particular defensive metric.
Even more impressively, he ranked in the 99th percentile for ball recoveries, recording an outstanding 7.17 per 90 minutes across the campaign.
Those numbers highlight a player with an exceptional capacity to win the ball back quickly and consistently, traits that align well with Alonso’s demanding pressing system.
Jorrel Hato is expected to be Chelsea’s first-choice left-back heading into next season, but Carreras would offer genuine competition for that spot.
His versatility to perform as both a traditional fullback and a wing-back would also hand Alonso additional tactical options across a busy season at Stamford Bridge.