£42m flyer snubbed during pre-season game amid talks with Chelsea
The search to replace Marc Cucurella is ongoing at Chelsea this summer, with the Premier League season slowly creeping up on clubs. For some time now, Chelsea’s favoured option has been clear.
Marc Cucurella is one of five permanent sales made by Chelsea this summer. Including Alejandro Garnacho, which is a loan with a conditional obligation, Chelsea have raised around £170m in player sales.
RATE 1-10: Is Marc Cucurella’s exit good business by Chelsea?
But Cucurella’s departure has left Chelsea light at left-back. Jorrel Hato can play on the left, but he was better as a centre-back towards the end of last season. Marco Palestra is an option, but is right-footed.
Chelsea need to sign a left-back, and it is quickly becoming a problem position. For some time, Spanish ace Pep Chavarria has been Chelsea’s priority. Amid the talks, he was snubbed on Sunday evening.
Pep Chavarria snubbed as Feyenoord beat Rayo Vallecano
On Sunday, Feyenoord beat Rayo Vallecano. A game which saw both sides play two lots of 75 minutes, ending in a 2-1 win for the Dutch side. Chavarria started the game on the bench for the Spanish side.
A key part of the La Liga side that reached the Conference League final, Chavarria was expected to join the game as a sub. Indeed, Rayo made 11 substitutions throughout the match – but not Chavarria.
Spanish reporter Jonay Amaro posted: “Jozhua Vertrouwd has gone to the bench. Pep Chavarría hasn’t come in. Marco de las Sias was chosen. We’ll see what happens the rest of the match, but it smells bad.”
Chavarria would remain on the bench for the entirety of the game, which was Rayo’s second friendly of the summer after losing to Scottish side Hearts. It shows Rayo are trying to keep Chavarria injury-free.
Rayo Vallecano stance and Chelsea’s £47m alternative
Chelsea have been locked in talks with Rayo for weeks, but have been unable to reach an agreement on a fee. The Spanish side keep changing their price tag, with the 28-year-old’s release clause a huge £42.4m.
Do you want to see Pep Chavarria, Marco Palestra or Jorrel Hato at left-back next season?
Chavarria didn’t do a bad job in the Conference League final against Crystal Palace
Indeed, BBC Sport reporter Nizaar Kinsella says Chelsea have been told that they must pay the full clause to convince Rayo to sell. Otherwise, the left-back will remain at Rayo for at least one more season.
There are plenty of alternatives. Xabi Alonso keeps asking about Alvaro Carreras, while the likes of Lewis Hall, Maxi Araujo, Archie Brown and plenty more left-sided defenders have been touted with Chelsea.
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