Chelsea are reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ over completing a £50m deal for Brighton full-back Marc Cucurella, ahead of Manchester City.
Following the departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal, Cucurella to Man City appeared to be all but done, with the former Barcelona man top of Pep Guardiola’s transfer wishlist.
However, time has passed and City have been unable to reach an agreement with Brighton over the transfer fee, despite Cucurella’s best efforts to force a move to the Etihad.
City’s dithering may well have cost them dearly, with news breaking on Monday afternoon that Chelsea are set to pip them to the post and complete a deal to sign him this week.
BREAKING: Chelsea are in advanced talks with Brighton over a deal for left-back Marc Cucurella.pic.twitter.com/mu86IM0TpJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 1, 2022
Chelsea have Ben Chilwell at left-wing-back, but both of Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmeri are expected to leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window.
Considering Chilwell is just coming back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, it’s perhaps no surprise that Thomas Tuchel is not relying on him bouncing back emphatically.
Chelsea have had some eleventh-hour crumbles this window, but this one now appears too advanced to collapse. Cucurella appears to be moving to Stamford Bridge.