Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly has been praised by Brighton CEO Paul Barber after negotiations for Marc Cucurella this summer, with the American also keen to keep Christian Pulisic this summer.
The Spaniard joined the club in a deal totalling £63 million earlier in the summer as Chelsea beat Manchester City to bringing the 24-year-old to the club.
Cucurella has started the season well, appearing in every match so far this season as Ben Chilwell recovers from his long-term ACL injury and gets up to match fitness.
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With negotiations tense for the transfer, Brighton denied an agreement was reached with Chelsea just days before the completion of the sale.
However, the deal concluded and Cucurella completed his move to the Blues, while Levi Colwill went in the other direction on loan.
The Seagulls were believed to be interested in Colwill on a permanent deal, but Boehly and Chelsea stood firm to retain their young star for the future, allowing him to gain Premier League experience this season.
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Speaking to talkSPORT regarding the deals, Barber heaped praise on Boehly.
"Todd was very respectful, tough, this wasn't an easy negotiation," he said
"It went on over quite a period of time.
"I didn't get any impression that this (Marc Cucurella deal) was something they'd do at any cost, it was something they were prepared to do. Todd negotiated very hard.
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"Todd’s a very successful individual who has clearly done very well in other businesses, through lots of negotiation.
"Although this is a new area for him, dealing with football players in the Premier League, he was very tough and he did not make it easy for us to get a deal done, and I respect him for that."
Boehly made the decision to do his all to bring Cucurella to the club, while also making his mind up on Pulisic's role at Chelsea this summer.
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As reported by The Athletic, Boehly decided against allowing a loan move for the Chelsea forward this summer.
Pulisic is understood to be disappointed as he wished to get regular first team football, much like Callum Hudson-Odoi has at Bayer Leverkusen this season.
However, he will remain a Chelsea player and look to impress Tuchel over the coming weeks.
It remains to be seen as to whether the Blues and Boehly will be active in the market towards the end of the summer window.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Todd Boehly, Brighton And Hove Albion, Marc Cucurella, Christian Pulisic, Transfers, Football
Nick Emms