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Xabi Alonso can unlock 'next Trent Alexander-Arnold' as new Chelsea star names best position Chelsea have enjoyed a prosperous summer transfer window, but there's still work to be done before the new Premier League season gets underway. Xabi Alonso could transform Valentin Barco into the 'next Trent Alexander-Arnold'. The 22-year-old has joined Chelsea from Strasbourg, becoming the fifth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Marco Palestra, Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, and Danny Welbeck. Barco, who can play at left-back or in midfield, has penned a seven-year contract with the Blues and will meet his new teammates later in pre-season. Until the Chelsea manager has the chance to take a closer look at the Argentina international, it remains to be seen what position he will predominantly play. With a player as versatile as Barco, Alonso may wait until the transfer window shuts before finalising his role in the squad. football.london understands that the Blues are interested in signing Alex Scott and Pep Chavarria; the arrival of either the midfielder or the left-back, respectively, would naturally impact planning. Fortunately for Alonso, the Argentine has enjoyed spells in both positions. Five years ago, Barco burst onto the scene at Boca Juniors as a left-back, but it wasn't long before he was pushed further afield and deployed on the left-wing. FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page During the handful of appearances he made at Brighton, the Argentine returned to his former position. Having struggled to adapt to the physicality in the Premier League, Barco was shipped out on loan to Sevilla, where he continued to feature at left-back. It wasn't until he began working under Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg, initially on loan, that he fully embraced life as a centre-midfielder. After making such a good impression, the French outfit secured his services on a permanent basis during the summer of 2025. Barco continued his great form in the following campaign and was nominated for the UNFP Best Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season award. Although his performances in the middle of the park piqued the interest of Chelsea, the Argentine could very well deputise Jorrel Hato at left-back. During an interview with El Canal de Boca in September 2023, Barco was asked what position he prefers: left-back or midfield. He replied: "I feel comfortable in both positions. "Wherever the team needs me or the coach wants me to play, I’ll play. Maybe everyone thinks I feel better as a midfielder because my qualities are offensive, but I really like playing left back because I have the whole field in front of me. "As a midfielder, I can create more danger, I get closer to the opponent’s goal. Those are the two positions I like, and I’ve been used to them since I was a kid." When Brighton forked out £7.87m to sign Barco from Boca Juniors in January 2024, he was compared to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Gareth Bale by a South American football expert. Speaking to club media, Nathan Joyes said: "Barco predominantly played as a left back at youth level, but former manager Jorge Almiron thought he would be better suited further up the field. "Since then, he has slotted comfortably in left midfield, as a left winger and even in central midfield. He has incredible vision, and I can't remember a young Argentine player standing out so much when in a not particularly strong side; some of his passes and his play in the final third have been bafflingly good. You think, ‘How on earth has he pulled that off?’" Joyes added: "In Argentina, Barco is very highly rated. One of my colleagues wrote a piece about him and said under the right management, there is reason to believe he could be the next Trent Alexander-Arnold on the left side of the pitch. The sky is the limit with him, and many are so excited about him." Describing Barco's play style, the South American football expert said: "He is not afraid to carry the ball into dangerous areas, look for interchanging passes with fellow teammates, and conjure up attacking moves all on his own. "Barco can offer so much passing-wise, but one of the areas to improve would be his defensive duties. His ball-striking could improve, but it’s very much like a Gareth Bale story where he does okay at left-back before progressing into a really promising attacking player. "He won’t be the fastest in the Premier League compared to certain others, but he’s still agile enough to compete at this level. Under the right coach, they could get the best out of him, but I believe his future lies away from the defence. Either way, he is an exciting talent."