How many wing-backs does one man need?
Antonio Conte is reportedly ‘determined’ to sign Marcos Alonso for Inter Milan, according to Sky Sports Italia.
Alonso has fallen out of favour at Chelsea under Frank Lampard after three seasons of being first choice left back at the club under, after Ben Chilwell joined the Blues from Leicester City this summer for a fee of around £50m.
With Chilwell set to start the majority of matches once he has recovered from his heel injury, Alonso will need to look elsewhere for regular minutes and Inter could be the perfect move for all parties.
Conte’s Inter side finished just one point behind Juventus last season and Conte is looking to improve his depth at wing-back, a key position in his favoured 3-5-2 formation.
However, Alonso heading back to Italy could depend on some departures from Inter’s squad, already brimming with wing-backs. After Ashley Young signed in January with Victor Moses – the other wing-back in Conte’s Chelsea side – the Nerazzuri are already well set in wide areas.
Kwadwo Asamoah, Danilo D’Ambrosio and Antonio Candreva are also options in those positions.
The most likely player to leave Inter this summer is Dalbert, who has just returned from a loan spell at Fiorentina and will leave Inter permanently this summer on a permanent deal if an appropriate offer comes in for the 27-year-old.
Alonso’s defensive shortcomings were more than made up for during his two years under Conte at Chelsea, during which time he chipped in with 14 goals across all competitions, often arriving at the back post and taking advantage of his six foot two inch frame to score headers.
Playing in a back four under Lampard has seen his form dip, however, with more defensive responsibility and less cover for him when he charges forward.
A return to the manager who got the best form out of him would be an ideal move for the 29-year-old Spain international.
