Chelsea target Real Madrid's Carreras to fill Cucurella void after £51.7m sale

Chelsea have identified Real Madrid left-back Alvaro Carreras as a potential replacement for Marc Cucurella, whose £51.7m permanent move to the Spanish capital was confirmed this week, leaving the Blues with a vacancy on the left side of their defence.

Spanish outlet AS reports that Carreras has been placed on Chelsea’s shortlist of summer targets, with new Stamford Bridge head coach Xabi Alonso said to be a significant admirer of the 23-year-old. Real Madrid, for their part, are not entirely opposed to selling Carreras, while the defender himself is yet to decide on his future heading into next season.

Cucurella’s departure was formalised on Monday, with Real Madrid announcing the left-back had signed a six-year contract running until 2032. The deal comprises a £47.4m fixed fee plus £4.3m in add-ons, taking the total to £51.7m.

Carreras only arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu last summer in a £43m deal from Benfica, having previously spent time in Manchester United’s academy before moving to Portugal. He made 40 appearances for Madrid in his debut season, including nine in the Champions League.

The Spain Under-21 international, who holds nine caps at that level, missed out on a place in the senior Spain squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Cucurella, by contrast, started Spain’s opening fixture — a goalless draw with Cape Verde — playing the full 90 minutes at left-back.

Chelsea’s interest in Carreras forms part of a broader summer overhaul under Alonso, who took charge at Stamford Bridge this summer. Real Madrid’s own transfer activity has been equally ambitious, with reports linking them to Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté, Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva under newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho.