Newcastle United would love to sign Marcos Alonso from Chelsea but the finances involved cast doubt on whether a deal can be done, according to The Mail.
With the brief exception of Jetro Willems, it’s fair to say The Magpies have been lacking in the left-back position for far too long.
Willems, the Dutch international who’s loan spell from Eintracht Frankfurt was cut short by injury in January, is perhaps the only top-class left-sided defender to wear the black and white stripes since Davide Santon’s peak almost a decade ago.
So with Chelsea open to offers for a 29-year-old Spanish international with an enviable CV, you can see why Alonso’s availability has not gone unnoticed at St James’ Park.
The £26 million-rated Alonso might not be the finest defender in world football but his searing pace, dead-ball ability and pinpoint crossing would perhaps make him the most influential attacking outlet in Steve Bruce’s squad.
Although, even if that Saudi Arabian takeover does go through, Alonso may be just too expensive in today’s double-riddled market.
That £26 million fee would make him the second-most expensive signing in Newcastle’s history (Mirror, 14 June, page 72).
And, according to Spotrac, the former Sunderland loanee also takes home £100,000-a-week in wages at Stamford Bridge.
And when you consider that Alonso has not been at his barnstorming best since Antonio Conte’s Chelsea spell came to an end two years ago, you can see why Newcastle might be a little wary.
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