According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Aston Villa are interested in signing Barcelona full-back Marcos Alonso in the upcoming January transfer window, as the Spanish defender is considering a return to the Premier League due to a lack of game time this season.
It has been only a little over a year since Marcos Alonso joined Barcelona, arriving for free after his contract with Chelsea was terminated. He has made 37 appearances for the Catalan giants. But the veteran defender is no longer seen as a crucial member of the squad, having racked up just 149 minutes of football action so far.
Alonso has largely played the role of the backup to Alejandro Balde, who has established himself as a first-team regular, while summer loan signing Joao Cancelo can also operate on Alonso’s flank.
Things could have been very different for Alonso, though, as there was a good chance that he could have left Barcelona during the summer transfer window. The 32-year-old Spanish ace was linked with an exit, and there was interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia, while Manchester United were also briefly linked
But nothing materialised, as Alonso never contemplated the possibility of a departure, while Xavi also wanted to keep hold of the left-back. Alonso’s contract with Barcelona comes to an end in the summer of 2024. And coupled with his diminished role this season, a January departure looks to be a serious possibility, with Aston Villa exploring the possibility of securing his services in January.
It is no surprise that Unai Emery is looking to bring in a left-back in the upcoming transfer window. The West Midlands club need to add more quality and depth at the back. Lucas Digne has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa, while Alex Moreno is currently sidelined with an injury.
If Aston Villa can sign Alonso for a reasonable price this winter, a deal could be worth doing. Versatile enough to operate as a left-back as well as a wing-back, Alonso has previously proven himself in the Premier League with Bolton Wanderes and Chelsea and could prove to be a useful acquisition for the Lions.
He has the quality to make an immediate impact and will likely add a cutting edge to their attack going forward as well. It will be interesting to see how this story evolves in the coming weeks as we head towards the January transfer window.
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