Chelsea have initiated talks to sign Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria as a surprise replacement for Marc Cucurella, who departed Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid in a £52 million deal. The Blues are now light on the left side of defence, with Jorrel Hato an option but incoming manager Xabi Alonso needing additional cover following Cucurella's exit.
Initial contact made
Spanish publication Marca reports that Chelsea have made 'initial contact' over a deal for the 28-year-old Spanish full-back. Chavarria has also attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen, who are considering a bid. However, no formal offer has been made by any club yet. The asking price from Rayo Vallecano remains unclear, but Chavarria is under contract until 2030.
Chavarria joined Rayo Vallecano from Real Zaragoza in 2022 and has since made 125 appearances for the club. He played a key role in their run to the Europa Conference League final last season, where they were beaten by Crystal Palace. Despite his La Liga experience, he has never played in European competition above the Conference League and has not been capped by Spain at any level.
Summer overhaul at Chelsea
Chelsea are expected to see significant squad movement this summer. Cucurella has expressed hope that influential midfielder Enzo Fernandez will join him at Real Madrid. Other players, including Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, and Liam Delap, have been linked with exits. Meanwhile, Chelsea are pursuing a range of targets, including a shock move for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka. Right-back Marco Palestra is set to arrive from Atalanta after a £51 million move was agreed between the clubs.
