Barcelona identify Man City defender as an alternative for Marcos Alonso

Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has emerged as a surprise option for Barcelona in case they failed to land their priority target Marcos Alonso in the summer.

Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo says although Alonso remains Barcelona’s priority, the team has prepared a list of options in case of any last-minute hiccups, and the player topping the list is Zinchenko.

It is believed that Zinchenko was recommended by his former Man City teammate Ferran Torres, and Barcelona are seriously exploring the option since he isn’t expected to cost much.

For Manchester City, they are not expected to stand in his way as they are looking to sell him anyway. But with his contract expiring in 2024, they are not rushing into things. 

As things stand, City are open to anything. If Zinchenko departs, they have identified Tyrick Mitchell of Crystal Palace as the perfect man for the job.

At Barcelona, they are pretty much convinced that Alonso is their primary target mostly because he fulfils their agenda. While he has a valid contract with Chelsea until 2023, he isn’t expected to cost much as Chelsea are open to doing business.

The Blues appreciate the sheer professionalism of the Spaniard and are grateful for his years of service. And so, for Barcelona to make everything easy, they would not stand in anyone’s way.

For Zinchenko, however, things could get pretty much complicated as he is also being chased by the likes of Arsenal and West Ham United. In fact, there are reports that the latter has already made contact with his agent in order to enquire about the potential move.

On top of that, even the player is open to leaving, but his viewpoint is particularly different from that of his suitor. It is said that he will only negotiate with those teams who are open use him as a midfielder and not as a left-back, something that Barcelona will certainly not agree upon.

And so, one can expect the management to put all their energy into the acquisition of Marcos Alonso.