Marc Cucurella: Chelsea close in on £50m deal for Cucurella

Chelsea are closing in on a deal for the Brighton & Hove Albion defender Marc Cucurella after submitting a bid for the player in excess of £50 million.

Brighton, who signed Cucurella from Getafe for £15 million in August 2021, were hoping to hold out for a higher fee but know that the left-footed Spaniard is keen on a move.

Cucurella, 24, last week handed in a transfer request to leave Brighton as Manchester City attempted to sign him but the Premier League champions were unwilling to offer more than £40 million.

Chelsea moved fast in entering talks with Brighton. The west London club require defenders after the departures of Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen, both on free transfers, this summer.

Thomas Tuchel, the Chelsea