Chelsea seems to be making moves at left back with Alex Telles rumors

Chelsea has already extended Ian Maatsen this week and now the rumors about Alex Telles are heating up. The Blues are shuffling the deck on left backs.

It feels as though left back has been a point of contention and weakness ever since the Blues returned to a back four in after Antonio Conte. Marcos Alonso and Emerson have fought over the left full back and left wing back spots the entire time and seemingly neither has truly pulled ahead.

The fans cried for Emerson for most of last season but this season it has been more towards Alonso. There is also the matter of Ian Maatsen coming up and recently extending. Even still, the club seems dead set on another left back.

Alex Telles rumors are picking up steam and the Ben Chilwell rumors never really went away. One is far more attainable than the other so it seems clear that Chelsea will be buying some left back. But they will also need to clear out some at the same time.

Realistically, Chelsea only needs two first team left backs. Maatsen is not technically in the first team yet, but including him that makes three the Blues currently have before even looking towards a new one.

Maatsen is probably set for a loan unless he has a Billy Gilmour like introduction to first team football here shortly. Emerson, meanwhile, has attracted Juventus rumors and Alonso has on again, off again links to various Spanish clubs from Real Madrid down throughout La Liga.

Given his age, more recent resurgence, and overall career, Alonso is probably the easier sell. Not only that, it is harder to see him accepting a bench role for another year. So if he were to head out the door and Maatsen out on loan, Emerson could remain to deputize whoever comes in.

Chilwell has been a priority seemingly all season but he would cost a great deal to pry away from Leicester City. Telles is a far more affordable option, but age is certainly not on his side in the same way as it is Chilwell. Furthermore, Chilwell already has the Premier League experience. Telles would be leaving Portugal after bouncing around Europe. It would be a big step up.

It may simply come down to what the club expects from Maatsen. If they expect him to turn into a true star, Telles would be the more sensible option due to his age and price. Maatsen could eventually deputize him and would not have to wait long to unseat him.

Chilwell would be far more prohibitive to Maatsen. Much like the Diego Costa and Romelu Lukaku situation, or the Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marcin Bulka situation, buying a player of a certain age and caliber forces out a younger one that could end up matching or surpassing them. Something similar has already happened this year with Tariq Lamptey and Reece James. Would the Blues really be willing to risk Maatsen by spending big on Chilwell?

Regardless, moves are being made. Chelsea jumped on Hakim Ziyech quickly just as the winter window closed. It appears the Blues want to act fast on a left back as well. It is just a matter of who clears out and who comes in for the next season.