CHELSEA are £10million short of Rayo Vallecano’s valuation of defender Pep Chavarria.
The Blues have been in talks over a deal for the full-back all summer, with the Spanish club standing firm over their asking price.
Chelsea are still some way off Rayo Vallecano’s valuation of Pep Chavarria Credit: Getty
The Blues are hoping to replace Marc Cucurella after he joined Real Madrid Credit: PA
Chavarria, 28, has a £42.4m release clause, though they would still sell the defender for around £30m.
Despite that, Chelsea are prepared to offer up to £21m – well short of Rayo’s asking price. Chavarria is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter
Thank you!
The Blues are in need of added competition and cover at left-back after the £47.5m sale of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid.
There is confidence Dutch defender Jorrel Hato can step up and deliver, but support will be needed.
cocaine test
World Cup star ‘tests positive for cocaine after being stopped by police’
CRACKER
Win a 4-Bedroom Luxury Home & an Audi RS6 or £450k for just £1.79 with our code
The former Real Zaragoza full-back would add much needed experience to the Blues squad, something new boss Xabi Alonso has identified as necessary this summer.
Chelsea, who have had a £15m bid for Chavarria rejected, attempted to sign Granit Xhaka, who played under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, from Jattvibederland for £8m to add leadership but saw that offer snubbed.
Talks over a deal for £60m-rated Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix are accelerating, with Premier League experience identified as an important factor in the signing of a new defender.
Alonso also wants to add further in midfield, having seen a £64m bid for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott rejected.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
It is currently unclear if the Blues will return with a second offer after Bournemouth made it clear they do not want to sell the England Under-21 midfielder.
The arrival of a new central midfielder could see vice-captain, a target for Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, depart – with the 25-year-old having made it clear he would consider an exit.
However, Alonso has said he wants to keep the Argentine at the club and no one has yet suggested they are ready to meet Chelsea’s £120m asking price.
Chelsea have already secured four done deals for new boss Alonso as they look to improve on their difficult 2025-26 campaign.
Morgan Rogers was their big money deal after arriving from Aston Villa for a British record of £117m earlier this week.
They also brought in defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta for around £43m and teenage winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting Lisbon.
