Transfer: Chelsea move for second Xabi Alonso signing with talks underway

Chelsea have started club-to-club discussions with Rayo Vallecano in an effort to acquire left back Pep Chavarria.

The Blues are keen on finalizing a deal for the 28-year-old defender following the recent exit of Marc Cucurella. Cucurella completed a £52 million transfer to Real Madrid, leaving new manager Xabi Alonso with limited options on the left side of defense.

Football London quoted sources to say that the west London club has now begun negotiations with Rayo regarding a potential transfer for Chavarria, who has four years left on his contract with last season’s Conference League runners-up. 

Hato, who joined Chelsea last summer from Ajax for £37 million, took some time to adjust at Stamford Bridge, and his performance improvement in the latter half of his debut season impressed the club’s executives. 

The Netherlands international is expected to fill the gap left by Cucurella’s departure on the left side of defense, with Chavarria, should he be signed, providing an additional option in that position.

Chavarria made 44 appearances for Rayo across all competitions last season, contributing to the Spanish team’s run to the Conference League final and an eighth-place finish in La Liga. The Rayo defender is capable of playing both as a left back and a wing back.

Having already secured Marco Palestra from Atalanta (with club confirmation pending), Chelsea aims to make Chavarria the second signing of the Alonso era, excluding any pre-arranged deals made prior to Alonso’s appointment.