Chelsea ‘plan to sell Marcos Alonso this summer’ amid Barcelona interest

Chelsea are ‘preparing to sell Marcos Alonso this summer’ with the defender possibly heading to Barcelona.

The Blues’ backline will be overhauled as the takeover by a consortium led by Todd Boehly has been completed, with the departures of centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

And Spanish left-back Alonso, 31, is also likely to join those leaving the Stamford Bridge club after six years.

Marcos Alonso could leave Chelsea this summer after six years of interest at Barcelona

Emerson Palmieri, who is on loan to Lyon, is expected to play for Chelsea more often

The Athletic Report that manager Thomas Tuchel plans to make Emerson Palmieri the backup option for Ben Chilwell in the left-back position once Alonso leaves.

Tuchel is a great admirer of the 27-year-old Italian and wanted to bring him back from a loan spell at Lyon in January after Chilwell suffered a serious knee injury.

England star Chilwell, 25, has returned to action, coming off the bench late last week in Chelsea’s final Premier League game against Watford.

He is likely to remain Tuchel’s first-choice on the left side of defence, but Emerson – part of Italy’s Euro 2020 winning team – will offer stiff competition next season.

Manager Thomas Tuchel gets money from the new owners to overhaul his defense

Todd Boehly completed his Chelsea takeover on Monday and offers a transfer budget

While that part of the pitch isn’t a problem, Chelsea will have to replace their outgoing centre-backs with Boehly and the new owners who are making money available for Tuchel to spend this summer.

Sevilla’s Jules Kunde will likely be the first to walk through the door for a fee of around £50million, 12 months after Chelsea walked away from a deal for the French international after the Spanish club raised the asking price.

Chelsea have also reportedly been eyeing 20-year-old RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol, although he could be promoted from the inside, with 19-year-old Levi Colwill impressing during a loan spell at Huddersfield Town.

Jules Kounde (right) of Sevilla is a primary central defensive target for Chelsea this summer

Cesar Azpilicueta may also need to be replaced, even if he played enough last season to automatically trigger a 12-month contract extension.

However, the 32-year-old Spaniard would have received verbal assurances that he would be allowed to leave this summer with Barcelona as a possible destination.