Hope James
Chelsea FC are willing to sign Brighton’s left-back, Marc Cucurella at £50m asking price after Champions Manchester City had their £30m bid turned down last week.
The Spaniard joined Brighton from Getafe for £15m last summer and was named as the club’s player of the season after impressing in his debut campaign.
Cucurella handed in a transfer request on Friday in a bid to push through a move to City but the Premier League champions will not pay Brighton’s asking price, with Chelsea now in pole position to sign the 24-year-old.
Sky Sports reports on Monday that the Seagulls had previously rejected a £30m bid for the defender from Pep Guardiola’s side, who are looking for a replacement for Oleksandr Zinchenko after he joined Arsenal.
Cucurella’s compatriot, Marcos Alonso has been linked to exiting the club as Barcelona looks the most promising to sign the 31-year-old this summer. Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta is also wanted by the Spanish giants with the defender having one year left on his deal.
Chelsea have had Cucurella enjoy a hugely successful first Premier League season after joining from Getafe in a deal worth around £15m last summer and was named Brighton’s player of the season.
However, Brighton do not want to let Cucurella leave and it would take a huge offer for them to sell as he has four years remaining on his contract at the Amex. However, the left-back has now pushed for a move by asking to be sold.