Chelsea set to miss out on Cucurella, identify alternative option (reliability: 4 stars)

Chelsea are looking at left wing-back options to replace Marcos Alonso who wants to leave for Barcelona.

One of their preferred options is Brighton defender Marc Cucurella. However, it looks increasingly likely that they are set to miss out on him as Man City are closing on his signing, as The Athletic reports.

Still, Chelsea have alternative options. One of them is Borna Sosa, Mateo Kovacic's teammate in the Croatian national team.

According to football.london, Chelsea scouts were impressed when they watched Sosa in action for Stuttgart several times last season.

The 24-year-old would also be a cheaper option than Cucurella as the latter might be available at as much as £50million.

Chelsea are expected to step up their interest in Sosa if Alonso eventually leaves. However, it raises questions about the future of Emerson who is returning from his loan spell at Lyon.