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  "path": "/2026/06/29/chelsea-open-talks-sign-surprise-name-marc-cucurella-replacement-28974014/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-29T17:27:53.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Chelsea",
    "Marc Cucurella",
    "joining the Spanish giants in a £52 million deal.",
    "Jorrel Hato",
    "Xabi Alonso",
    "Sign up",
    "Marca",
    "Europa Conference League",
    "Crystal Palace",
    "Liam Delap",
    "including a shock move for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka.",
    "Right-back Marco Palestra is set to arrive from Atalanta after a £51m move has been agreed between the clubs.",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Pep Chavarria has spent four seasons with Rayo Vallecano (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nChelsea need a new left-back after the departure of Marc Cucurella and have opened talks with a name many fans will not be familiar with.\n\nCucurella has left Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid, joining the Spanish giants in a £52 million deal.\n\nThe Blues are now light on the left of defence, with Jorrel Hato an option but incoming boss Xabi Alonso will need someone else in that position following Cucurella’s exit.\n\nAn unexpected name has emerged on the radar at Stamford Bridge, in fact talks have already begun over a shock move for another Spanish full-back.\n\n##  Don't miss a World Cup moment\n\nEngland updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Get it all in our daily World Cup newsletter. Sign up.\n\nSpanish publication Marca report that Chelsea have made ‘initial contact’ over a deal for Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria.\n\nThe 28-year-old has caught the eye elsewhere as well, with Bayer Leverkusen interested in him and considering a bid.\n\nAn offer is yet to arrive from any club, but Chavarria looks likely to have some high profile options in front of him this summer.\n\nChavarria coming up against Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in March (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nThe asking price Rayo Vallecano would put on Chavarria is not clear, but he remains under contract at the club until 2030.\n\nThe full-back has been with Rayo since 2022, joining from Real Zaragoza, and has made 125 appearances for his current club.\n\nRayo Vallecano enjoyed a run to the Europa Conference League final last season, where they were beaten by Crystal Palace.\n\nHe does have plenty of La Liga experience, but has never played in European competition above the Conference League. Nor has the full-back been capped by Spain at any level.\n\nChavarria’s Rayo Vallecano fell short against Crystal Palace in the Conference League final (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nThere is set to be a lot of movement in the Chelsea squad this summer, as has been the case in so many summers in the past.\n\nCucurella has made it clear that he hopes influential midfielder Enzo Fernandez joins him in swapping Stamford Bridge for the Santiago Bernabeu.\n\nOther players including Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah and Liam Delap have all been linked with exits as well.\n\nMeanwhile Chelsea are looking at a range of targets, including a shock move for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka.\n\nRight-back Marco Palestra is set to arrive from Atalanta after a £51m move has been agreed between the clubs.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Chelsea open talks to sign surprise name as Marc Cucurella replacement"
}