Why Chelsea must make a move for FC Porto’s Alex Telles in the summer

In January, Portuguese publication A Bola (h/t The Daily Mail) had claimed that Chelsea were interested in signing FC Porto left-back Alex Telles. However, no deal materialised during the January transfer window.

Alex Telles has established himself at FC Porto over the last two seasons. The 27-year-old, who arrived from Turkish club Galatasaray in 2016, racked up four goals and eight assists in 33 league games for FC Porto last season. In the 2017/18 campaign, he netted three goals and supplied 14 assists in 30 Liga Nos appearances.

The Brazilian has been a regular in the Porto starting line-up this season, bagging nine goals and as many assists in 35 games across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Chelsea failed to sign any new players last month despite their transfer ban being overturned. However, the West Londoners have started planning for next season as they announced the signing of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, with the playmaker slated to join his new club in June.

Despite failing to sign any players in the last two transfer windows, Frank Lampard has done a commendable job at Stamford Bridge. They currently lie 4th in the table.

After signing Ziyech, the Blues must shift their focus towards strengthening the defence which has leaked 37 goals in 27 games. Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori have been inconsistent at the back this term. In addition to a centre-back, Lampard’s side need a new left-back.

Neither Marcos Alonso nor Emerson Palmieri has done enough to nail down their place at left-back. The duo, along with Cesar Azpilicueta, have all made appearances in that position this season without holding down a regular spot. Keeping that in mind, Chelsea must rekindle their interest in Alex Telles during the summer transfer window.

Telles has played 20 league games for Porto this season, scoring seven goals and registering five assists. In the last two Liga Nos campaigns combined, he has played 63 times and supplied 7 goals and 22 assists. These are excellent returns from a defender’s point of view, suggesting how well-rounded modern-day full-back Telles is.

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The Brazilian would undoubtedly bolster Chelsea’s options on the left side of the defence, whilst adding depth to the squad.

Verdict

With Azpilicueta ageing and none of Alonso or Emerson doing enough to warrant a spot at left-back, signing Telles would be a fantastic piece of business for Lampard’s Chelsea after the acquisition of Ziyech.