Chelsea agree deal to sign Marc Cucurella

Chelsea have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign defender Marc Cucurella, Fabrizio Romano reports.

The Blues entered talks for the Spain international earlier this week after Manchester City refused to meet the Seagulls' asking price.

Brighton were initially said to be eyeing around £50m, but have eventually agreed a package of £52.5m to sanction his departure.

Meanwhile, the south Coast outfit are expected to sign Levi Colwill permanently in a separate deal which will also be permanent.

Colwill has decided to join the Seagulls for regular first-team football, but the Blues will have the chance to re-sign him in coming seasons.

As part of the transfer, they are expected to retain a buy-back clause.

Cucurella is set to become Chelsea's fifth signing of the summer. The Blues signed Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly last month.

Earlier yesterday, they confirmed the signing of Gabriel Slonina as well as an agreement to land Aston Villa prodigy Carney Chukwuemeka.