Marc Cucurella: Chelsea in advanced talks to sign Brighton left-back for £50m with Man City unwilling to meet asking price

Chelsea are in talks to sign Marc Cucurellafrom Brighton & Hove Albion, The Athleticunderstands.

There is no agreement yet between the Premier League clubs but conversations are ongoing.

Cucurella, 24, was also a target for reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.

However, The Athletic reported last week that Brighton ended their conversations with City over a sale and will only accept an offer that meets their asking price.

Cucurella handed in a transfer request on Friday, though it is understood that did not change Brighton’s stance. They want a fee of upwards of £50million (€59.5m, $60.8m).

Chelsea are working to overhaul their defence before the summer transfer window closes on September 1.

They are also working on deals to sign Wesley Fofana from Leicester City and Denzel Dumfries of Inter Milan.

Leicester are believed to value centre-back Fofana at a figure in the region of £80million to £85m ($97m to $103m), but Chelsea hope that could be lowered by offering players to their top-flight counterparts.

Inter, meanwhile, need to raise money this summer — particularly after talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Milan Skriniar stalled because of their price demands — and Chelsea’s admiration for the right wing-back is strong