Left back (or left wingback) is not a position of immediate concern, with three left backs in the Chelsea squad already. Ben Chilwell is the obvious first-choice with Marcos Alonso back in the reckoning as his deputy and Emerson also on the roster, though he is likely to depart this summer.
However, like all clubs, Chelsea are always monitoring and scouting other players, and at this position, one of those is Alfonso Pedraza of Villarreal, according to La Razon. A product of their academy, the 25-year-old started his career as a left winger, but has been converted to a left back. He’s scored 2 goals and provided 4 assists in 39 appearances this season, and would in principle provide competition for Chilwell. There is a €35m release clause in his contract, though it’s unlikely that Chelsea (or others, like Barcelona) would play that much.
As an alternative to Pedraza, Chelsea are also reportedly (still) monitoring Robin Gosens of Atalanta — in whom Leicester City are also interested. Gosens may or may not have been one of our alternative targets last summer before we managed to sign Chilwell from Leicester, and he would be an astute signing still, for either club.
