Chelsea’s winning run in the Premier League came to an end on Tuesday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Leeds United.
The Blues had won four matches in a row in the league since Liam Rosenior’s appointment as head coach last month, and looked set to extend that run to five games when Joao Pedro put the hosts in front at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer then doubled the Blues’ advantage from the penalty spot – his third spot-kick in four days – to put Rosenior’s side in a commanding 2-0 lead.
Leeds pulled one back with a penalty of their own – converted by Lukas Nmecha – before Noah Okafor drew the Whites level minutes later.
The draw leaves Chelsea fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, while Leeds sit 15th.
In the wake of the game, it has emerged that Chelsea could consider including one of their most important players in a potential deal for a La Liga star.
As per Spanish outlet Fichajes, Chelsea are weighing up the idea of including Marc Cucurella in a deal to sign Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez is a target for Chelsea (Photo: Aflo. Co. Ltd/Alamy)
The report claims that Chelsea are one of the clubs showing the most significant interest in the Argentine attacker, while Atletico are long-term admirers of left-back Cucurella.
The Spaniard joined Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2022 and endured a difficult debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Over the past 18 months, though, the 27-year-old has established himself not only as an instrumental player for the Blues, but also as one of the best full-backs in the Premier League.
While Chelsea have previously refused to entertain the idea of selling Cucurella, it is claimed that the west London side could be willing to include the Spain international as part of a player-plus-cash deal to sign Alvarez.
The report suggests that Chelsea could eye a deal worth around £35 million plus Cucurella, as opposed to the £85 million that Alvarez would likely cost as a purely cash deal.