Chelsea have reportedly made a £21m offer for Real Madrid left-back Alvaro Carreras after new manager Xabi Alonso identified the Spaniard as his top replacement for Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea have reportedly made a £21 million bid for Real Madrid defender Alvaro Carreras as new manager Xabi Alonso looks to strengthen his options at left-back ahead of the new season.
The Blues are searching for a replacement following Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid. Although Jorrel Hato is capable of playing on the left side of defence, Chelsea are eager to recruit a natural left-back to become Alonso’s first-choice option.
According to reports from Spain, Alonso has identified Carreras as his preferred target after previously working with the 23-year-old during his spell at Real Madrid. The Chelsea boss is said to believe the Spaniard is the ideal player to fill the void left by Cucurella.
🚨 CONFIRMED: Chelsea are interested in Álvaro Carreras.
Real Madrid are OPEN to selling him.
Jose Mourinho is okay with using either of Fran García or Álvaro Carreras as back-up for Marc Cucurella. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/rzbytJSdmr
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 16, 2026
Spanish news outlets claim Chelsea have already submitted an opening offer worth €25 million (£21m), but Real Madrid rejected the proposal immediately as they have no intention of selling for that price.
The La Liga giants are reportedly holding out for a fee of at least €50 million (£43m) before considering any sale. Despite Cucurella’s arrival increasing competition for places, Madrid are not under pressure to cash in on Carreras.
The defender himself is also believed to be keen on remaining at the Santiago Bernabeu and fighting for his place, although Chelsea hope the promise of regular first-team football could persuade him to reconsider.
Carreras’ career has taken contrasting turns under different managers. Jose Mourinho, during his time at Benfica, dropped the Spaniard after a dip in form, while Alonso showed complete faith in him, even deploying him as a centre-back on several occasions because of his versatility.
Cucurella, meanwhile, recently explained that leaving Chelsea was a difficult decision but one he felt was necessary for both his career and family. The Spain international admitted he never expected to leave Stamford Bridge so soon but described the opportunity to join Real Madrid as a step he could not turn down.
