Chelsea could swipe Brighton defender Marc Cucurella away from Manchester City
- Scott Allen
- 1 August 2022
Chelsea are believed to be in advanced talks with Brighton for wing-back Marc Cucurella, although the Seagulls want £50million.
Despite the Spanish defender reportedly handing in a transfer request, the price-tag could be too steep for Manchester City, who have been looking for a replacement for Arsenal-bound Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Blues have long since been tracking Cucurella, who came through the Barcelona academy and impressed at Getafe before joining Brighton in 2021.
Chelsea are continuing to reshape the squad under new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, with manager Thomas Tuchel understood to remain keen on two further defensive recruits.
The Blues are also thought to harbour strong interest in Leicester's Wesley Fofana, though prising the France star away from the King Power Stadium outfit will prove a tough ask.
Cucurella is thought to be open to a Chelsea move, with the one-cap Spain star having already expressed his desire for a fresh challenge amid the extended Manchester City interest.
Chelsea have already pulled off big-name signings in Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly but are determined to add further new faces to the squad.
Kepa Arrizabalaga could yet head out in the other direction however, with Napoli understood to be continuing to push hard to strike a loan deal for the Spanish stopper.
New recruit Koulibaly will wear the 26 shirt at Chelsea this season, and has revealed he sought John Terry's assent to take the former England defender's number at the west London club.
Koulibaly posted a video on social media of his phone call to Terry, to ask for the ex-Chelsea captain's blessing to take the number he wore at Stamford Bridge with such distinction.
