Chelsea eye former Manchester United star Alvaro Carreras to replace Marc Cucurella
Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing former Manchester United player Alvaro Carreras as they search for a replacement for Marc Cucurella.
The London club are looking at several changes to their squad as new manager Xabi Alonso works to build a new Chelsea team.
Since Alonso was confirmed as Chelsea’s new manager, the club has been very active in the transfer market. Chelsea have already made major moves and are expected to complete more deals before the transfer window closes.
One of the biggest moves of the summer so far has been the signing of England international Morgan Rogers.
Chelsea Complete Record Deal for Morgan Rogers
Chelsea completed a British record-breaking transfer for Rogers, signing the England star for £117 million.
The midfielder also agreed to a huge seven-year contract with the London club.
The deal shows Chelsea’s desire to build a strong team for the future under Alonso. Rogers is expected to play an important role in the manager’s plans as Chelsea look to compete for major trophies.
The club are also expected to complete another major signing in the coming days.
France international Maxence Lacroix is reportedly set to join Chelsea from London rivals Crystal Palace. The transfer is expected to cost around £51 million.
The possible arrival of Lacroix would give Alonso another important addition as he continues to change his squad.
Chelsea See Major Changes in Squad
Chelsea’s transfer activity this summer has not been limited to new signings.
The club have also been working on several player departures, with Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Alejandro Garnacho and Marc Cucurella all leaving the team.
Of those four players, Cucurella’s departure is considered the biggest loss.
The Spanish defender played an important role in Chelsea’s success during recent seasons. His performances made him an important member of the team, and replacing him will be a major task for Alonso.
Cucurella has now secured a big move to Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants are reportedly paying £47.5 million for the defender, with another £4.3 million possible through add-ons.
With Cucurella now leaving Stamford Bridge, Chelsea need to find another player who can fill the position and help the team continue to compete at the highest level.
Chelsea Interested in Alvaro Carreras
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea have developed a growing interest in Alvaro Carreras.
The 23-year-old defender could reportedly move from Real Madrid to Chelsea in a deal that would essentially see him replace Cucurella.
Carreras is a former Manchester United reserve player who moved to Real Madrid last year after the Spanish club completed a £43 million transfer for him from Benfica.
However, his future at Real Madrid is now believed to be uncertain.
The Spanish club already have a full squad of 25 players. This means Real Madrid will have to allow some players to leave or risk leaving some of them out of their official squad list for next season.
That situation could make Carreras available for a possible transfer.
Carreras Has Connection With Xabi Alonso
One of the biggest reasons why a move to Chelsea could make sense for Carreras is his previous relationship with Xabi Alonso.
The defender worked with Alonso during the manager’s time in charge of Real Madrid last season.
Carreras was able to establish himself as a regular starter under Alonso and became an important part of the team.
However, his situation changed after Alonso was dismissed as Real Madrid manager.
Following Alonso’s departure, Alvaro Arbeloa took over as his replacement, and Carreras eventually lost his starting position to Fran Garcia.
The change in management has made Carreras’ future at the Santiago Bernabeu less certain.
Cucurella Move Could Open Door for Carreras
With Cucurella now joining Real Madrid, it could become even harder for Carreras to regain his place in the starting team.
As a result, the 23-year-old is reportedly believed to be open to the possibility of leaving Madrid.
A move to Chelsea could give Carreras the chance to work with Alonso again while also providing him with a regular role in the team.
For Chelsea, signing Carreras could help solve the problem created by Cucurella’s departure.
The Spanish defender already knows Alonso’s methods and played under him at Real Madrid. This could make it easier for him to settle into Chelsea’s system.
The possible transfer could therefore benefit both the player and the English club.
Real Madrid Also Planning More Changes
Carreras’ possible departure could also make sense for Real Madrid for financial reasons.
The Spanish club have recently completed a deal for highly-rated Ivorian winger Yan Diomande.
The 19-year-old has attracted interest from major European clubs, including Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Diomande has reportedly agreed to join Real Madrid.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have reached an agreement with RB Leipzig for the transfer.
The deal is expected to be worth more than €100 million, which is around £85 million.
The move shows that Real Madrid are continuing to invest heavily in young talent as they look to build their squad for the future.
Yan Diomande Set to Complete Real Madrid Move
Diomande is reportedly expected to travel to Madrid this week.
The young winger will undergo the required medical tests before completing his transfer to the Spanish club.
Once the medical process is completed, Diomande is expected to sign a five-year contract with Real Madrid.
The agreement would keep him at the club until June 2031.
His arrival could add further competition for places in the Real Madrid squad and may increase the need for the club to make decisions about which players should stay and which players could leave.
Chelsea Could Find Cucurella Replacement
For Chelsea, the possible signing of Carreras could provide a solution to one of the biggest problems created by their summer transfer activity.
Cucurella was an important player for the club, and his departure to Real Madrid leaves a gap that Alonso will need to fill.
Carreras could be an attractive option because of his age, experience and previous relationship with the Chelsea manager.
The defender also has experience playing for Real Madrid and Benfica, while his time at Manchester United has given him further knowledge of English football.
With Chelsea continuing to rebuild under Alonso, the potential arrival of Carreras could become another important part of the club’s plans.
Although no deal has been confirmed yet, Chelsea’s reported interest in the former Manchester United star is growing.
If the move goes ahead, Carreras could reunite with Alonso at Stamford Bridge and take over the role left by Cucurella.
At the same time, Real Madrid would be able to make room in their squad while continuing to strengthen their team with the arrival of Diomande.
The possible transfer could therefore become an important move for all sides as Chelsea and Real Madrid continue to reshape their squads ahead of the new season.
