Marc Cucurella: Chelsea On Verge Of Deal For Brighton Full-back

Chelsea are on the verge of a deal to sign Spain international full-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton.

The defender, 24, handed in a transfer request after interest from Manchester City, but they did not pursue a move and deemed the fee too high.

Chelsea sources are confident of concluding the transfer, however Brighton said no agreement has been reached with any club in a statement.

Cucurella was with Brighton for just one season after joining from Getafe.

He would become Chelsea's third summer signing after forward Raheem Sterling and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

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The Blues have also agreed a £20m fee with Aston Villa for teenage England youth international Carney Chukwuemeka.

Last month, the Seagulls rejected a £30m bid from champions City for Cucurella and saw £50m as the benchmark - the fee Arsenal paid for England defender Ben White last summer.

Sources at the club said it would take another exceptional offer to consider a sale as they saw Cucurella as a better player.

But, if sold, he would become the second big-money departure this summer from the Amex after midfielder Yves Bissouma joined Tottenham in a £25m deal, plus add-ons.

A Barcelona academy graduate, Cucurella has one senior cap for Spain and played for the under-23 side that won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.