Chelsea have €9m bid rejected for Pep Chavarria by Rayo Vallecano

Chelsea have €9m bid rejected for Pep Chavarria by Rayo Vallecano Chelsea are keen to sign a left-back after losing Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid in a €50 million deal . Chelsea are now targeting Rayo Vallecano star Pep Chavarria as a replacement for Cucurella . The Blues have had their opening €9m bid for the left-back rejected, according to Mundo Deportivo . Chavarria has four years left on his current deal, after extending his contract last summer, putting Vallecano in a strong position to command a higher fee. Why Chavarria could be a good signing for Chelsea Chavarria produced several dazzling displays for Vallecano last season, helping them reach the Europa Conference League final, where they lost to Crystal Palace . The 28-year-old made 44 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing three goal assists. Chavarria excels in ground duels, having ranked among the best full-backs for possession won and defensive duels won in La Liga last term. However, he does not have a strong aerial presence. Chavarria is a strong ball carrier and is capable of delivering quality crosses. His ability to play at left-back and wing-back makes him well-suited for Chelsea, with manager Xabi Alonso considering using a three-man defence next term. Chavarria would face strong competition from Jorrel Hato for a starting berth. It is believed that the Dutchman will play a ‘ bigger role ‘ at Chelsea next season. Alongside their pursuit of Chavarria, the Blues are on the verge of wrapping up a deal for Italian right-back Marco Palestra . The west London side are also looking to strengthen the centre-back, midfield and forward positions. Stats from transfermarkt.com