Chelsea have €9m bid rejected for Pep Chavarria by Rayo Vallecano | OneFootball

Chelsea are keen to sign a left-back after losing Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid in a €50 million deal.

Chelsea are now targeting Rayo Vallecano star Pep Chavarria as a replacement for Cucurella.

The Blues have had their opening €9m bid for the left-back rejected, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Chavarria has four years left on his current deal, after extending his contract last summer, putting Vallecano in a strong position to command a higher fee.

Why Chavarria could be a good signing for Chelsea

Chavarria produced several dazzling displays for Vallecano last season, helping them reach the Europa Conference League final, where they lost to Crystal Palace.

The 28-year-old made 44 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing three goal assists.

Chavarria excels in ground duels, having ranked among the best full-backs for possession won and defensive duels won in La Liga last term. However, he does not have a strong aerial presence.

Chavarria is a strong ball carrier and is capable of delivering quality crosses.

His ability to play at left-back and wing-back makes him well-suited for Chelsea, with manager Xabi Alonso considering using a three-man defence next term.

Chavarria would face strong competition from Jorrel Hato for a starting berth. It is believed that the Dutchman will play a ‘bigger role‘ at Chelsea next season.

Alongside their pursuit of Chavarria, the Blues are on the verge of wrapping up a deal for Italian right-back Marco Palestra.

The west London side are also looking to strengthen the centre-back, midfield and forward positions.

Stats from transfermarkt.com