Wantaway Chelsea star Marcos Alonso considering handing in transfer request to force Barcelona move

The 31-year-old defender is eager to return to Spain this summer (Pictures: Getty)

Wantaway Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso will consider handing in a transfer request in an effort to secure a move to Barcelona this summer, according to reports.

The left-back is believed to be Xavi’s top choice to act as cover and competition for Jordi Alba, and Barca had hoped to pick up the 31-year-old for a cut-price fee.

Chelsea are thought to be open to selling Alonso, though first want to secure a new backup left-back of their own to vie with Ben Chilwell for a place in the first team.

A fee of €10million (£8.5m) has been mooted, which seems reasonable for a player of Alonso’s experience.

But Barcelona want to negotiate an even smaller fee, particularly given that the Spaniard only has one year left on his contract – though, as happened with Cesar Azpilicueta last season, a further year could be triggered based on appearances.

Now Mundo Deportivo report that both Barca and Alonso are becoming frustrated with Chelsea’s stance and the veteran defender is prepared to force through a move.

Alonso has little intention of staying at Stamford Bridge for another year and wants to return to Spain to be closer to his family, with Barca the club he dreams of playing for.

Alonso is growing frustrated with Chelsea’s transfer stance (Picture: Getty)

But so far Chelsea have put ‘obstacles’ in his way to prevent that move from happening and he is now willing to consider handing in a transfer request.

Although a one-year extension clause could be triggered next season, Alonso does not expect to meet the number of appearances required and effectively sees himself as being in the final year of his contract.

Alonso has enjoyed his time at Chelsea enormously, winning a host of trophies, and ideally would like to leave the club on good terms.

But he is willing to rethink that stance if the Blues’ hierarchy do not show more flexibility and is desperate to return to La Liga.

For their part, Barcelona cannot make a bid until their so-called financial ‘levers’ have been activated, with the club still unable to register Franck Kessie and Andrea Christensen despite signing the pair on free transfers.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have a host of other transfer priorities they will focus on first before looking to bring in a new left-back – which would then open the door for Alonso’s exit.

Manager Thomas Tuchel wants to get a deal for Raheem Sterling wrapped up as soon as possible, while he is also looking to add as many as three new defenders to his ranks after the loss of Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.