Chelsea want 'excellent' France star - it could be the smartest deal of 2027

30 Sept 2026 20:02 BST 3 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

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Chelsea are reportedly interested in Como captain Lucas da Cunha, who has been on a remarkable upward trajectory in recent years.

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Just a few years ago, the 25-year-old was in Ligue 1 no man's land. A winger and attacking midfielder by trade, Da Cunha was on the books at Stade Rennais and OGC Nice and spent time on loan at Lausanne-Sport and Clermont Foot.

Although Nice believed that he was capable of developing into a great player, hence the decision to spend €1 million on him, their patience eventually ran out. When Como, then still in Serie B, came calling in early 2023 and offered €750,000, the INEOS club decided to cut their losses.

Current ETV

ETV Range

€12.3M - €15.1M

Since his decision to move to Italy, Da Cunha's career has been transformed. He helped Como win promotion to Serie A in 2024 and has become one of the club's most important players - but not as a winger.

Manager Cesc Fabregas saw something in Da Cunha that others didn't. He transformed the attacker into a deep-lying midfield playmaker, shaping him in his own image. The 25-year-old now captains Como and is a senior France international.

Da Cunha's stunning rise culminates in France debut

On Monday, Da Cunha made his debut for Les Bleus in Zinedine Zidane's second game in charge. He played the full 90 minutes in central midfield in the 1-0 victory over Belgium that saw his manager go viral for his celebration of Michael Olise's delightful late winner.

Da Cunha has received lavish praise in the French press not only for his performance but also for his overall development in recent years. Former Man Utd midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who played with him at Nice, was very impressed with his France debut.

"For his first match with the French national team, I loved it," Schneiderlin told L'Equipe after the match. "He doesn't drop too deep. He stays in very interesting areas.

"He has excellent game intelligence. He managed to stay calm under pressure. We saw him go beyond his usual position several times. I played with him at Nice. Everything he does is clean. He never overdoes it."

Da Cunha himself was also delighted with his showing. "It was my first match, the coach gave me his full confidence, told me to do what I do at club level, to play freely and help the team," he said.

"That's what I tried to do, and I had a good feeling. I felt good on the pitch. I'm very happy with my first match here. A first call-up is a big deal. It's incredibly emotional, a huge joy.

"A few years ago I was in the second division, and now I find myself here with the French national team, so it shows that when you work hard, when you don't give up, things happen.

"Tonight, it happened, and I'm very happy. My family isn't here tonight, but I hope they'll be here on Friday [against Italy]."

L'Equipe has praised Da Cunha for his "well-roundedness" and "unique profile" compared to the other midfielders in the French squad. The outlet added that he "particularly shines with his reading of the game and his ability to be comfortable almost anywhere on the pitch."

Chelsea target Da Cunha

Da Cunha's stunning development isn't going unnoticed at Europe's biggest clubs. TEAMtalk claims that Chelsea and other Premier League suitors are keeping close tabs on his performances.

The Blues are not deterred by the fact that Da Cunha signed a new long-term contract until 2031 this summer and are plotting a possible move in 2027. They desperately need a midfield orchestrator.

The interest in the Frenchman predates his international emergence, which shouldn't be entirely surprising considering that Chelsea have been keeping a close eye on Como and their former star midfielder Fabregas.

The Spaniard was one of their coaching candidates after the sacking of Liam Rosenior, before they ultimately settled on Xabi Alonso. Chelsea will be intimately familiar with Da Cunha, who has been virtually ever-present under Fabregas.

It is not difficult to see why they would be interested in the 25-year-old. He is entering his prime and is already a leader, and his profile would make him an ideal partner for Moises Caicedo in Chelsea's midfield.

Da Cunha is also acquiring valuable elite-level experience beyond simply Serie A this season. He is now a senior France international and is playing in the Champions League with Como. He could be the missing piece in Chelsea's squad.