Chelsea have initiated talks to sign Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria as a surprise replacement for Marc Cucurella, who recently departed for Real Madrid in a £52 million deal. The Blues are light on the left side of defence following Cucurella's exit, and incoming manager Xabi Alonso is seeking reinforcements.
Shock move for Pep Chavarria
According to Spanish publication Marca, Chelsea have made 'initial contact' over a potential transfer for the 28-year-old Spanish full-back. Chavarria has also attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen, who are considering a bid. However, no official offer has been made yet. The asking price for Chavarria remains unclear, but he is under contract at Rayo Vallecano until 2030.
Chavarria joined Rayo Vallecano in 2022 from Real Zaragoza and has made 125 appearances for the club. He played a key role in their run to the Europa Conference League final last season, where they lost to Crystal Palace. Despite his La Liga experience, he has never played in higher European competitions and has not been capped by Spain at any level.
Chelsea's summer overhaul
There is expected to be significant squad turnover at Stamford Bridge this summer. Cucurella has expressed hope that midfielder Enzo Fernandez will join him at Real Madrid. Other players like Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, and Liam Delap have been linked with exits. Meanwhile, Chelsea are pursuing multiple targets, including a shock move for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka. Right-back Marco Palestra is set to arrive from Atalanta for £51 million.
The Blues are also monitoring other positions as they aim to rebuild under Alonso. The club's activity reflects a busy transfer window ahead.
