For the first time this summer, Chelsea will have the bragging rights of hijacking a deal for a player. The Blues are set to steal Manchester City target Marc Cucurella after meeting Brighton’s asking price of £50 million for the left-back. The versatile Spaniard was wanted by City to resolve their left-back problems after Oleksandr Zinchenko left for Arsenal.
However, the English champions deemed Brighton’s price tag of £50m on Cucurella too high and searched for his alternatives. In the meantime, Chelsea entered the race to land the left-back and may have already won it. According to multiple reports, the 24-year-old has agreed personal terms with Chelsea and is set to undergo his medical at the club facilities this week.
Chelsea on war-footing for Marc Cucurella
Chelsea have ramped up the negotiations to sign Cucurella after Brighton rejected City’s latest approach for the defender. MailOnline report that City tabled a bid of £40 million a last attempt which Brighton refused to accept out of hand since it fell £10m short of their evaluation. Chelsea took advantage of the same and opened talks for Cucurella on Monday morning.
While the Spaniard’s preferred destination was the Etihad, he has now green light a move to Stamford Bridge after City were unwilling to fork out the £50 million. Moreover, Chelsea have included their talented center-back Levi Colwill in the deal which proved to be a huge breakthrough in the talks. The academy graduate could move to Brighton with Cucurella signing for the 2020/21 Champions League winners.
Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso will now sort his future out with the club after his expressed his desire to join Catalan giants FC Barcelona. Thomas Tuchel however held up his departure until and unless the club signed a replacement. But with Cucurella now set to arrive at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel may let Alonso leave for Spain.
Cucurella, a La Masia graduate joined Brighton from Getafe last summer for £15 million and quickly established himself as one of the exciting players in his position. His pace and dribbling down the left flank created lot of problems for some of the finest defenders in the league last season.
Brighton were reportedly enraged over City with their failed attempts of negotiating a deal on an initial offer of £35 million. The Seagulls have now closed the door for City to return and are finalizing the paper-works with Tuchel’s side. Cucurella who handed a transfer request in a bid to secure a switch to City has also accepted Chelsea as his next club.
‘Full agreement now reached between Chelsea and Cucurella on personal terms. Potential contract has been proposal approved, Marc’s prepared to accept once clubs agree on fee. Chelsea and Brighton in direct talks again today in order to complete the deal,’ reported transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea will welcome their third signing this summer after Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly arrived. Tuchel will be hoping to have Cucurella for the club’s Premier League opener this weekend against Everton at Goodison Park.