Chelsea has agreed personal terms with Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria, according to a report by Marca.
The English club is looking for a replacement for Marc Cucurella, who recently moved to Real Madrid.
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The 28-year-old defender has emerged as a key target under new manager Xabi Alonso, who is restructuring the squad.
While personal terms are finalized, Chelsea and Rayo Vallecano president Martin Presa are still negotiating the transfer fee.
Negotiations Ongoing
Marca reports that Chelsea submitted an upgraded proposal of €12 million including bonuses. However, the Spanish club is holding out for more than €20 million.
Earlier, Rayo Vallecano rejected a €9 million offer from Chelsea and a €6 million bid from Villarreal, according to Mundo Deportivo and La Razon.
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Villarreal manager Inigo Perez wanted to reunite with the defender, while Bayer Leverkusen is also monitoring the situation.
Chavarria made 44 appearances last season, scoring one goal and providing three assists. He helped Rayo Vallecano qualify for the Conference League for the first time.
The Catalan defender joined Rayo Vallecano from Real Zaragoza in 2022 for €1.8 million. He extended his contract until 2030 last year.
Although Chavarria has a €50 million release clause, La Razon reports that Rayo Vallecano is willing to sell for a lower fee if their valuation is met.
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Chelsea officials are optimistic about reaching an agreement quickly for the versatile defender, who can play in both four-back and three-back systems.
