Chelsea To Rival Manchester City For £25 Million Wolves Defender

Chelsea have placed Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri on their summer transfer defensive shortlist amid interest from Manchester City, according to reports.

Thomas Tuchel could lose wing-back Marcos Alonso this summer with Barcelona showing interest in the Spaniard, while Alonso has expressed a desire to return to his homeland one day despite being happy with life at Stamford Bridge.

Earlier this month, he admitted: "On paper, I have a contract for one more year and that is where we’re at today. I’ve already said that I would like to play in Spain again, but it doesn’t depend entirely on me.

“I can’t complain about anything at Chelsea, but the desire to play in Spain is there. It doesn’t depend entirely on me and I’m happy at Chelsea, honestly.”

Marcos Alonso of Chelsea celebrates scoring the equaliser during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. (Alamy)

Ben Chilwell will be their first choice wing-back next season - he is set to return to Cobham later this month to begin his personal programme to get his fitness back up to speed, before the rest of the squad return on 2 July for pre-season, following ACL surgery at the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, Emerson Palmieri has returned from his loan spell at Lyon and is being eyed to provide cover for Chilwell next term. However, he is yet to speak to Tuchel over his future at the club.

When asked about his future, he said: “I didn’t speak with Thomas Tuchel just yet. I have a contract with Chelsea. I played there for three seasons and I have a lot of friends there and if I come back, I'll be happy. It's a good place and club for me. I don’t know (whether I will return), let’s see what can happen.”

Chelsea are yet to make a signing this summer following the arrival of the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, but countless names have been linked and targets have been shortlisted.

Tuchel held a meeting with Boehly recently over the club's transfer plans which saw the American billionaire promise the Chelsea head coach full control over transfers, as well as the new owners' commitment of trying to give the German everything he needs to mount a title challenge with Manchester City and Liverpool next season.

Now according to Alan Nixon, Chelsea have identified Wolves' Ait-Nouri as a potential replacement for Alonso if he leaves.

Wolves are believed to be ready to sell at the right price, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City monitoring him.

Should Chelsea want to strike a deal, they could land the 21-year-old for a fee of around £25 million.

Chelsea will hold talks with Alonso in the coming weeks over his position at the club which will likely determine if a replacement is required heading into the 2022/23 season.

For Chelsea their main focus is in central defence. Jules Kounde is the number one target, while attackers have been lined up in case Tuchel wants to acquire some reinforcements to add more goals to a side who lacked killer instinct on many occasions last season in front of goal.