Marcos Alonso ready to fight Alex Sandro for Chelsea starting place

Marcos Alonso is ready to fight for his place should Chelsea complete a deal for Juventus left back Alex Sandro this summer.

Alonso played an influential role in Chelsea's title success last season after joining from Fiorentina for £23million last August.

But Antonio Conte is determined to increase competition for places with the club being back in the Champions League and wants Sandro to become his first choice on the left flank.

Even if the move doesn't materialise Chelsea will continue to pursue other options, like Southampton's Ryan Bertrand.

However, Alonso is not concerned and said: "This is Chelsea. We play in four competitions this year, so many games and competition can only be good for me and for the team. That’s it.

"I will just keep training, keep improving, keep doing well for the team and keep fighting."

Signing wing backs has become all the rage, with clubs increasingly opting to play with three centre halves in defence.

Manchester City alone have bought three, beating Chelsea to the acquisitions of Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo.

Chelsea were almost unbeatable once Conte switched to 3-4-3 last October and many managers have followed suit.

Alonso added: "It’s an old Italian system that worked very well last year. It’s normal that other teams are trying to play like this depending on the players you have.

"It’s good to play in different ways. We are working on new things this year to improve as a team. That’s one of the main things for us."

City have spent in excess of £200m on new players so far and are still looking to buy another forward and centre half.

Chelsea have brought in four players for £132m, but have also allowed a lot of players to leave and Conte has expressed concern about the size of his squad.

But Alonso is convinced Chelsea will still be the team to beat. He said: "It’s been a crazy summer. Teams are spending big money, no?

"Compared to other years. It’s getting more and more expensive with time. If they have the money they can do whatever they want.

"We need to be ready to play against every team. We are Chelsea. We will have to fight for every competition.

"The squad will be more or less the same as last season with some very good new players who will help. We are ready to take on anyone.

"I don’t remember about last season already. I think about Arsenal (in the Community Shield on August 6) and Burnley (opening Premier League game on August 12) and that’s it. Getting ready for those games.

"Football forgets everything very quick. It’s already time to think about the next season and do better than last year."

Meanwhile, the Spaniard has revealed that club record buy Alvaro Morata has quickly settled into the camp.

Morata only joined up with his new team-mates, following a £58m move from Real Madrid, at the start of the week.

Alonso was coming through the youth ranks at Real Madrid when Morata was there and added: "I know him quite well from when we were at Real Madrid. We never played together but I know him a little bit.

"I think it will be no problem for him to get used to English football and to adapt to the team. He already looks like he’s been here for a long time. He will be a great player for us."