Transfer Centre

Manchester United 'eyeing £70m Marcos Alonso swoop'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 19 March 2018

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reportedly earmarks £70m-rated Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso as a solution to his problems at left-back.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly identified Chelsea full-back Marcos Alonso as a possible transfer target this summer.

Mourinho is understood to be in the market for a new left-back having been forced to use Ashley Young in that position for much of this season after the likes of Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind failed to hold down a starting role.

Young has drawn plenty of plaudits for his performances as a makeshift full-back, but Mourinho is eager to find a new specialist in that position ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

Reports in Spain now suggest that the United boss is looking to raid his former club Chelsea for Alonso, giving the green light for a £70m approach for the 27-year-old.

Alonso has established himself as one of the Premier League's leading full-backs having scored six goals in each of his two top-flight seasons since joining Chelsea.

However, the Blues are reluctant to lose the Spaniard to a direct rival, particularly after seeing the impact Nemanja Matic has had at Old Trafford since he made the switch from Chelsea to United last summer.