Chelsea are closing in on an agreement with Rayo Vallecano for defender Pep Chavarria. Left-back Chavarria is a key target for new manager Xabi Alonso having faced him while he was in charge of Real Madrid last season. Negotiations became protracted amid a belief at Chelsea that Rayo were raising their valuation during the process, asking as much as the full £42.8m release clause at one stage. Alongside new right-back Marco Palestra, who joined Chelsea for £47m from Atalanta in July, Chavarria's arrival would give Alonso the chance to replicate his wing-back system that helped Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title in 2024. His signing also adds depth to the left-back position after Marc Cucurella joined Real Madrid in June for £51.8m.