The Daily Mail reports that Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti has contacted Stamford Bridge to enquire about the possibility of bringing Alex to the club. They are looking to strengthen their squad, having won the Russian league and cup double last season, and Spalletti sees Alex as an ideal candidate due to his height and aerial ability.
Alex, 28, has played for Brazil 17 times, but has recently lost his place in the Chelsea starting line-up to international team mate David Luiz. His thigh injury in October prompted the signing of Luiz, and he now finds himself on the fringes of the squad of the Premier League runners-up.
He signed for Chelsea from Santos in 2004, but was loaned out to PSV Eindhoven for three years in order to gain a work permit. He first became known to the English public when he scored the goal that knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League in 2007, and later that year he finally returned to Chelsea to make his debut.
The defender has scored some spectacular goals in his time in England, most notably against Liverpool and Arsenal, but has only made 25 league starts in the last two seasons. He has not been included in Mano Menezes’ latest Brazil squad and has not played for the national side since 2008.
With Chelsea set to bring in a new manager to replace the sacked Carlo Ancelotti, Alex could be deemed surplus to requirements and allowed to leave. Whether or not he would be tempted by Zenit, who are currently seventh in the Russian league, remains to be seen.
