Chelsea has recently expressed interest in Alvaro Odriozola, the Real Madrid defender whose time at the Santiago Bernabeu is nearing its end.

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, relayed by Sport Witness, Chelsea has inquired about the Spanish defender. Real Madrid had acquired Odriozola for €32 million in 2018. However, the player himself has a desire to return to his former club, Real Sociedad, during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Since his move to Real Madrid from Real Sociedad in July 2018, Alvaro Odriozola has experienced a significant decline in his career. Despite being regarded as one of the most promising young full-backs in Spain, his time at the Santiago Bernabeu has yielded few noteworthy moments.

Even his loan spells at Bayern Munich and Fiorentina failed to enhance Odriozola’s reputation. In the previous season, he managed to accumulate only 94 minutes of playing time across six appearances for Real Madrid. Consequently, it is highly likely that Odriozola’s tenure with the club will come to an end this summer, with Chelsea emerging as a potential destination for the Spanish defender.

Chelsea’s interest in the Spanish international comes as a surprise, considering they have already secured the signing of one right-back this year, Malo Gusto, who will join the first team during the upcoming pre-season campaign. Therefore, it remains unclear how Odriozola would fit into Chelsea’s plans at Stamford Bridge.

However, recent reports have linked Reece James, Chelsea’s current right-back, with a potential move to Real Madrid. If James indeed expresses a desire to join Los Blancos, Chelsea would need to keep their options open. With Malo Gusto likely being seen as a long-term solution for the right-back position, bringing in Odriozola as a backup would be a sensible decision for Chelsea.

Considering that Odriozola’s contract with Real Madrid expires in just over a year, it is highly unlikely that Los Blancos would recoup the €32 million they initially spent on his signing. Nonetheless, Chelsea may face tough competition from Real Sociedad and Athletic Club in their pursuit of the 27-year-old Spanish defender. Although Chelsea has shown interest in Odriozola’s situation, it remains unclear who they have made contact with.

Meanwhile, Alvaro Odriozola himself is eager to depart from Real Madrid and reunite with Real Sociedad. As his time with Real Madrid winds down, it remains to be seen whether he will make the move to Chelsea or stay in Spain.