Chelsea closing in on a £50m deal for Brighton defender Marc Cucurella in blow to Manchester City

Chelsea are closing on a £50million-plus deal for Marc Cucurella after further talks with Brighton on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old has already agreed to join the Stamford Bridge club and is awaiting the go-ahead once the finer details of the fee and payment are passed by Brighton’s owners.

Cucurella had handed in a transfer request last week after seeing Manchester City thwarted in their attempts to sign him for under £40m.

Chelsea are nearing a £50million-plus deal for Marc Cucurella after more talks with Brighton

He has been convinced of Chelsea’s project under Thomas Tuchel and new owner Todd Boehly

It had been considered that the former Barcelona academy graduate only wanted to join up with Pep Guardiola but he has been convinced of Chelsea’s project under Thomas Tuchel and new owner Todd Boehly.

For their part, Brighton are discussing a separate deal for Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill, 19, who impressed on loan at Huddersfield last season and have expressed an interest in RB Leipzig’s former Manchester City full-back Angelino.

Chelsea have had a chaotic couple of weeks striving to strengthen Tuchel’s defensive options but the addition of Cucurella, Brighton’s Player of the Year last season, will be a major coup.

Cucurella’s arrival will pave the way for Malang Sarr to move to Monaco on loan with an option to buy for around £10m.

Chelsea want to add at least one more centre-back while they have also enquired about Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters as well as Denzel Dumfries at Inter Milan. Chelsea have also made two offers for young Inter midfielder Cesare Casadei.

Cucurella’s arrival will allow Malang Sarr to move to Monaco on loan with a £10m option to buy

For their part, Brighton are discussing a separate deal for Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill, 19

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was floated as an option in Chelsea’s proposal for Leicester’s Wesley Fofana, does not wish to leave.

The Blues have offers from Barcelona for Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta while Lazio want to sign Emerson Palmieri. Italian side Spezia are also pushing for Wales international Ethan Ampadu.

The £12m signing of Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina on a six year deal was confirmed last night. The 18-year-old will return to Chicago on loan while Chelsea have also agreed a £20million deal for Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka.

The 18-year-old, who had rejected a new contract at Villa and is understood to have asked for a deal worth up to £100,000 a week, will be in London today for his medical. 

AC Milan had offered £3million for the England U19 international prior to Chelsea agreeing to meet Villa’s asking price. He has agreed a six year contract.