Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso has been heavily involved in Chelsea's transfer business this summer window(Image: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images)
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Chelsea are on the brink of completing a deal to sign Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano.
The Blues have been pursuing the 28-year-old left-back for the last month or so, with football.londonreporting the west Londoners' interest for the first time back on June 29. Following the £51.7million departure of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid, Chelsea are keen to add another left-back option, with Jorrel Hato the go-to in that position at the time of writing while academy star Landon Emenalo has been used there in pre-season.
Chavarria looks set to be another option for Xabi Alonso, who is understood to have driven this move after being impressed with the Rayo defender last season. The Spaniard has already agreed personal terms over a move to Stamford Bridge and is now awaiting the green light via a club-to-club agreement.
While that has not quite been reached yet, sources say a deal is getting closer. Chavarria is expected to be given permission to travel to London to undergo a medical before signing a long-term contract in the English capital.
Pep Chavarria
Chelsea are set to sign left-back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano(Image: Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press)
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Chavarria is set to become Chelsea's 11th summer arrival following the signings of Marco Palestra, Morgan Rogers, Danny Welbeck, Maxence Lacroix and Jordan Henderson. The Blues also struck a number of pre-agreed deals prior to the summer, with Valentin Barco, Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Denner and Dastan Satpayev all arriving at Stamford Bridge.
The west London club had a shortlist of left-back options and did consider others, especially when negotiations with Rayo were proving complicated at times, but Chavarria has always been Chelsea's No.1 target in his position. There was also always a confidence Chelsea would eventually strike a deal with the Spanish club despite their stubborn stance.
While Stamford Bridge insiders have said not to rule anything out if an opportunity presents itself, the vast majority of Chelsea's incoming business has now been done in the summer transfer window. However, the Blues are expected to be very active when it comes to offloading players in the final few weeks of the window.