Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho had been eyeing Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori but have struck a deal to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for more than £50m
Marc Cucurella is set to move to Real Madrid for more than £50m
Marc Cucurella is set to move to Real Madrid for more than £50m(Image: COLORSPORT/Ashley Western/Shutterstock)
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Jose Mourinho is eyeing another signing as Real Madrid boss after a deal was struck with Chelsea for the purchase of Marc Cucurella.
The Spaniard will return to his homeland after spending five years in the Premier League with Los Blancos due to pay £51.7million to sign the left-back from the Blues. Real will pay an initial fee of £47.4m with a further £4.3m in add-ons, reports football.london.
The paperwork is still being finalised but official confirmation is expected within a week and Cucurella will officially make the move once he returns from the World Cup, where he is seeking to win a second successive major tournament with Spain.
Chelsea were not actively looking to sell their defender but it is understood that Cucurella was keen to depart Stamford Bridge and the opportunity to move to Real was too good to turn down.
Mourinho had turned his attention to the Premier League as he sought to improve his backline and Mirror Football reported that Riccardo Calafiori was on his radar. The Arsenal star has endured injury issues and faces notable competition, but the decision has been made to go for Cucurella.
Chelsea are still making a loss on the Spaniard, who cost them £63m when he joined from Brighton back in the summer of 2022. He has claimed Euros glory during his time at Stamford Bridge. The defender had only signed a new deal with the Blues last summer and still has three years left on it.
Mourinho, who has only just been appointed at Real, has wasted no time in bolstering his options in what is his second spell at the Bernabeu. The Spanish giants are close to landing both Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva who are available on free transfers.
Jose Mourinho could see four new faces arrive at Real in the coming week
Jose Mourinho could see four new faces arrive at Real in the coming week(Image: Getty Images)
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They left Liverpool and Manchester City when their contracts expired and are on the market. Bernardo has long been tipped to go to Barcelona, but could now end up in the Spanish capital. Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries is also close to secure a move to the Bernabeu with the Italian club agreeing a fee with Real.
Mourinho is looking to end a trophyless period at Madrid that was extended to a second year this term. That ultimately cost Alvaro Arbeloa his job and the club have wasted no time in improving their options. In their backline they've lost David Alaba and Dani Carvajal with their contracts ending.
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