Chelsea are stalling on a move for Juventus defender Alex Sandro due to the Italian side demanding £60million for the left-back, according to the Metro.
Blues boss Antonio Conte is set to miss out one of his top transfer targets again after failing to land the Brazilian in the summer along with a number of other players.
Juventus’ CEO Giuseppe Marotta announced in December that the club would not stand in the way of any player wanting to leave.
“We have said many times that when a player asks to be sold, regardless of prestige or importance within the team, we are in favour of a sale,” he told Mediaset Premium.
Chelsea’s hierarchy are believed to be put off by the £60 million price tag and they are satisfied with the club’s current left-back Marcos Alonso, who has been in fine form this season with six Premier League goals.
However, Conte wants to boost his options in that department as the London side only have the inexperienced Baba Rahman as an alternative to Alonso.
The London side are currently involved in four competitions which makes Chelsea’s search for further options at full-back even more pressing.
Despite questions marks over his long-term future at Juventus, Alex Sandro has been a first-team regular this season, with one goal and four assists in 17 appearances in the Serie A.
The arrival of the Brazilian international at Stamford Bridge would provide healthy competition at left-back between him and Alonso, although neither will be happy with a place on the bench.
There is the possibility of Conte starting both players with the Spaniard in a more advanced position on the left-wing, as Eden Hazard has found himself in a central role this season alongside Alvaro Morata.
The pressure will now be on Chelsea’s board to deliver Conte’s transfer wish list following the 48-year-old’s frustrations in recent weeks at the club’s transfer dealings.
