Manchester United are in talks with Chelsea over the signing of Marc Cucurella on a season-long loan.
Erik ten Hag is looking for a new left-back before Friday’s transfer deadline as Luke Shaw is expected to be out around November with a muscular injury. Fellow left-back Tyrell Malacia has been out with an unspecified injury and missed the entire pre-season. He is not due to be available again until after the September international break, which currently leaves Ten Hag with academy boy Alvaro Fernandez as the only recognised left-back, although Diogo Dalot is an option and played in that position during Manchester United’s 3-2 comeback victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
As the transfer deadline day looms large, the Red Devils have reportedly submitted a proposal to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea. The Blues have responded to Man United and talks are ongoing over various parameters around an initial loan deal. Man United also have other left-back options under consideration, which include Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon, Lyon’s Nicolas Tagliafico, Barcelona’s Marcos Alonso and AS Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola.
Marc Cucurella, 25, has struggled to make an impression at Chelsea since his £60 million move from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer. He is yet to make an appearance this term under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, who favours Ben Chilwell and youngster Ian Maatsen at left-back.
Signing Marc Cucurella on loan makes sense for Man United
Man United have been weighing up the cost of a loan deal for Marc Cucurella, who has emerged as Ten Hag’s preferred candidate to fill the left-back slot in the wake of injuries to Shaw and Malacia. Ten Hag is reluctant to rely on in-house options such as Alvaro Fernandez and Diogo Dalot, with the former completely unproven at the highest level.
The Red Devils are convinced that Cucurella is an upgrade on the current options available and a good fit for Ten Hag’s system. A technically sound footballer with tremendous passing ability, the Spaniard was excellent at Brighton which drove the demand for signatures to the top. He can carry the ball very well, progress into the opposition third and produce incisive through passes, whilst the 25-year-old’s work-rate off the ball was well noted during his Brighton days.
A tenacious tackler too, Cucurella has got in him to thrive under the tutelage of Ten Hag at Old Trafford. Having a versatile and intelligent player in Cucurella on the left will add more steel to United’s defence. Plus, the ex-Brighton man would also provide squad depth as Ten Hag’s side looks to begin their hunt for three-cup competitions.
All in all, a season-long loan deal for Cucurella would make perfect sense for the Red Devils.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
