CHELSEA ARE CLOSE to completing a £52.5million deal for Brighton wing-back Marc Cucurella, the PA news agency understands.
The Blues are thought to have signalled their intent to pay the big-money fee Brighton had held out for, inching the west Londoners close to completing the 24-year-old’s signing.
Brighton are understood to be pushing hard towards a separate deal for Chelsea’s highly-rated centre-back Levi Colwill.
Talks between the two clubs are understood to be ongoing over whether the deal for the 19-year-old would be a loan a permanent transfer.
The Cucurella and Colwill deals are completely separate, but it is thought both may have to be signed off for either move to be completed.
Chelsea are understood to have agreed personal terms with Cucurella, with the Spain wing-back keen on a Stamford Bridge switch.
Manchester City had appeared in pole position to sign Cucurella earlier this summer, but are understood to have refused to meet Brighton’s valuation.
Brighton moved to insist no deal had been agreed on Cucurella on Wednesday evening however, posting a statement on social media.
“Contrary to inaccurate reports from numerous media outlets this evening, no agreement has been reached with any club to sell Marc Cucurella,” read a Brighton statement on Twitter.
Cucurella’s likely Chelsea move will take the Blues’ summer spending past the £150million mark, with Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly the other high-profile additions under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s new ownership.
England Under-19 midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina are the other new recruits already secured by the Blues this summer.
Chelsea will continue to press for further recruits, with another centre-back and a right wing-back still potential additions.
Cucurella’s signature could also pave the way for Marcos Alonso’s long mooted move to Barcelona.
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Maybe I don’t watch enough Brighton games, but I don’t get the hype over this lad. Looked decent for Brighton last year, but never really stood out. Think 50mil is madness based on what I’ve seen, and struggling to see him displace Chillwell/ Alonso
@Johnny 5: created 3rd most chances as a defender behind Trent and James last season that is fair going considering the Brighton team and also the fact he played some games as a LCB in a back 5, only questionable thing about him is his defending
@Paddy: fair comment. Purely basing it on the eye test across 7/8 games and didn’t see anything special. But those are very decent stats
@Johnny 5: I watched a lot of Brighton. For me he was their best player last year. Very good on the ball. Excellent defensively. 52 million is still ridiculously high, but he had great year and a long contract. I think he’s a big upgrade on Chilwell and Alonso.
@Johnny 5: madder than $50m for Ben White or $85m for Harry Maguire? I doubt it
@Paddy: haha what did Ben White do to be in the same bracket as Slabhead? He’s had a great season. Fred 50, Aaron wan Bissaka 50, Ruban Diaz 68M, John stones 48M, Elaquim Mangala for City 48M, Kepa, 70M, Konata 36M (as a sub CB) Just can’t understand why people constantly pick out Ben White’s price when all teams do it.
@Seàn Pòl O’Maolain: Ruben Dias worth every penny
@Seàn Pòl O’Maolain: Konate and Diaz have been great business by both City and Liverpool. Why would you be putting them in the same bracket as flops like McGuire?
@Ottomaaan: I’m not…. Im trying to take Ben White out of the same catagory as Slabhead.
@Johnny 5: Saw him live at Leeds v Brighton end of last season. Best player on the park and definitely looked a cut above that level
There’s something really gross about all this buying nowadays. Don’t know much about him, obviously a handy player, but for someone that’s gonna be around 2nd choice cover costing £52m, and another fairly handy player in Alonso, and the £50m (I think) Chilwell… all of which playing the exact same position. When is this madness gonna end?
Not to just single out Chelsea here tho, plenty of clubs at it. Just all beginning to feel a bit rotten.
@Ultan Corcoran: Alonso leaving for Barca. Chilwell coming back from an ACL. Cucurella can play either LCB or LWB. He will be a starter
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Ahh I thought it was Azpi off to Barca my bad. Anyway, Chelsea aren’t the worst for this so it wasn’t an attack by any means. Still a hefty whack of cash for 2 players alone in 1-2 positions nonetheless.
@Ultan Corcoran: Azpi could be off there as well, though he may wait another year.
Malacia at 12 m is looking bargain lol
@Gary Galligan: You pay what you get for. An unproven young player from Serie A versus an established premier league proven player wanted by the likes of Pep and Tuchel. Class is class
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Shows how much you know when you think Malacia came from Serie A
City refused to pay 50 million for him and offered 30. Hope he works out for Chelsea. They should be strong this year .