Chelsea have made a fresh enquiry for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, valued at around £80m, after completing the signing of Spanish defender Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano. The move comes as Chelsea brace for a potential approach from Manchester City for Enzo Fernandez, who has expressed a desire to leave Stamford Bridge.
Chavarria joins to replace Cucurella
Chavarria, 28, has signed a five-year deal with Chelsea, becoming one of over ten new arrivals this summer. He was identified by manager Xabi Alonso as the top target for the left-back position following Marc Cucurella's departure to Real Madrid. Chelsea had wanted to keep Cucurella, who developed into one of Europe's best full-backs, but he opted to leave after talks with the Spanish giants.
Chavarria made over 100 appearances for Rayo Vallecano, helping the La Liga side reach the Europa Conference League final last season. The £18m signing is expected to fill the void left by Cucurella's exit.
Midfield targets and Fernandez uncertainty
Chelsea are keen to add a new midfielder, particularly if Fernandez secures a move away. Fernandez made it clear earlier in the summer he wanted to leave, with interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City. Madrid's interest has faded, but City remain in the mix as they seek a replacement for Barcelona-bound Rodri.
According to The Guardian, Chelsea have made a new enquiry for Scott, 22, who has impressed at Bournemouth and attracted interest from several top clubs. Chelsea previously bid £64m for Scott last month, but Bournemouth rejected it instantly and stated no further approaches would be welcome. However, the Blues are expected to test Bournemouth's resolve with an improved bid, especially if City show willingness to meet Fernandez's £120m asking price.
Chavarria excited by Premier League challenge
After completing his move, Chavarria told Chelsea's official website: 'In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, I dreamed of moments like this. When I was a child, it was always my goal to arrive at a club like this. I've played at every level in Spain, and to be able to move up, it's always been about hard work because today is my dream coming true. I can say it was all worth it.'
He added: 'I think that the Premier League is the best in the world. I think there is more intensity, more duels and more quality than anywhere. And I think that it's the perfect league for me. I'm a player that loves this intensity, one-to-one battles – I love it. Xabi was a top player, and now, for me, he's one of the best managers in the world.'
Chavarria also praised Chelsea's squad, saying: 'Chelsea are winners, and they have winners. They are world champions with players like Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro, Estevao, and I think they are some of the best players in the world. And Chelsea have a lot of history too with players like Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard – some of the best players in the world have played here. They have won the Champions League and the Club World Cup – it's really exciting.'
Chelsea have one final pre-season friendly, against Real Sociedad on Saturday, before opening their Premier League campaign with a trip to west London rivals Fulham. The Blues finished 10th in the Premier League last season, failing to qualify for European competition, but are expected to improve under Alonso.
