Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso says he would like to return to Spain amid rumours Barcelona are interested in signing him this summer.
The Spaniard, 31, is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2023 but reportedly wants a fresh challenge next season.
Alonso was reinstated to Chelsea’s first-team last term following injuries to left-back Ben Chilwell and made 46 appearances in all competitions.
However, the return of Chilwell from injury is likely to see Alonso relegated to the bench next season.
Speaking to Onda Cero, he said: ‘I have already said that I would like to return to Spain, but in the end it does not depend entirely on me. It’s clear that the desire to one day play in Spain is there’.
Since signing for Chelsea in 2016, Alonso has made 212 appearances and scored 29 goals in all competitions.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, he has won the Premier League and Champions League.
He has only ever played one game in La Liga, when at Real Madrid in 2010, and has spent most of his career in Italy and England with the likes of Fiorentina and Bolton Wanderers.
His father played for Barcelona for five years in the 1980s and reports suggest Alonso has agreed terms with the Spanish giants.
His departure would deepen Chelsea’s defensive crisis with Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger’s exits leaving Tuchel short ahead of next season.
The German is believed to be targeting Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe as defensive reinforcements.
But he will need to manage his transfer kitty with a new striker and central-midfielder also thought to be on his wishlist.
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MORE : Chelsea make enquiry for Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar
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