Transfer Centre LIVE! Football transfer news, updates and rumours

Six-year contract expected. Would partner Levi Colwill at the heart of defence.

A specific request from Xabi Alonso, who values his versatility and tactical intelligence. Rayo hold his contract to 2030, so are under zero pressure to sell.

Chelsea explored a move as part of their centre-back search before turning their full attention to Maxence Lacroix.

Cucurella's move to Real Madrid was confirmed as a permanent transfer worth an initial €55m, with a further €5m possible in add-ons. The 27-year-old leaves Chelsea after four seasons following his 2022 move from Brighton, making 163 appearances in west London. He has signed a six-year contract at the Bernabeu, running through to June 2032.

Stones became a free agent when his Manchester City contract expired at the end of June, bringing an end to a decade at the Etihad after 295 appearances since his 2016 move from Everton. Chelsea are among several clubs exploring a move, along with Arsenal and Inter Milan, as they look to add experienced cover at centre-back. The 32-year-old impressed for England at the World Cup, including a strong showing in the semi-final defeat to Argentina, which has only increased his profile on the free agent market.

Alajbegovic's stock rose sharply after a breakout World Cup with Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighted by a spectacular long-range goal against Qatar in the group stage and three starts including the round-of-32 defeat to the United States. Chelsea have now submitted a formal bid guaranteeing over €30m, potentially rising to €40m with add-ons, though personal terms are not yet agreed. Xabi Alonso is a known admirer from his time at Bayer Leverkusen, and Chelsea are considered favourites ahead of competition from Juventus.

Austin MacPhee is leaving Aston Villa to join Chelsea's coaching staff as a set-piece specialist. He spent five years at Villa working closely with Unai Emery, turning dead-ball situations into one of the club's most reliable attacking weapons, with Villa topping Europe's leagues for goals scored from set pieces in consecutive seasons. He was also central to Villa's Europa League triumph, having designed the training-ground routine that led directly to Youri Tielemans' opening goal in the final.

Chelsea are exploring the midfield market after seeing a £64m bid for Alex Scott rejected, as exclusively revaled.

Another midfielder arriving is not a guarantee Enzo Fernandez will be sold. #CFC remain open to Fernandez signing a new contract, but if the club's £120m valuation met an exit is possible this summer

In light of the reports and statements that have appeared in recent days regarding an alleged interest from Real Madrid CF in the player Enzo Fernández, the club wishes to state that it has not made any effort, either direct or indirect, to sign the aforementioned player and, likewise, has no intention of undertaking such an operation.

Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost respect for Enzo Fernández, a great footballer whose career and quality are widely known, as well as for Chelsea FC, a club with which it maintains an excellent institutional relationship.

Precisely because of the respect that an entity like Chelsea FC deserves and because of the principles of institutional loyalty that have always governed the actions of Real Madrid, the club considers it necessary to categorically deny speculations that are unfounded and do not correspond to reality.

Real Madrid regrets that, despite the clarity of the facts and the lack of any action on the part of the club, information continues to be disseminated that does not correspond to reality and that only contributes to generating confusion among fans and unnecessarily harming the entities and people involved.

Xhaka and Chelsea have reached a full verbal agreement on personal terms. Xabi Alonso is pushing hard — the two worked together at Bayer Leverkusen where they won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. Football365 Xhaka made

32 starts in the Premier League for Sunderland last season, scoring 1 goal and registering 6 assists as they finished 7th and qualified for the Europa League.

Football365 Stumbling block is the fee — Chelsea want to pay less than €30m given his age (turns 34 in September); Sunderland are holding firm.