According to Fraser Gillan of TEAMtalk, Chelsea could sell Marc Cucurella in the January transfer window or next summer. The 25-year-old was out of the starting eleven earlier in the season and has been inconsistent since featuring more regularly.
Cucurella has been a regular since replacing the injured Ben Chilwell in October, but Gillan still believes he’ll be axed. The Spanish international set Chelsea back £60m in the summer of 2022 and hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Cucurella has struggled in West London
Cucurella has made 45 appearances in all competitions since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion, racking up two assists. His debut season at Stamford Bridge was cut short due to injury with Cucurella missing 14 league games. The left-back’s form was poor too, resulting in him being substituted in 46% of his outings.
Cucurella’s future in West London was uncertain at the end of the season and Manchester United tried to capitalise. They wanted to sign Cucurella in August and Chelsea were open to a sale, but lofty demands killed the deal. Cucurella has featured in 10 of the Blues’ last 11 games this campaign, so he’s enjoyed a turnaround in fortunes.
Can Chelsea afford to lose him?
Chelsea want to trim their bloated squad after Todd Boehly spent £1bn on new players, but they need Cucurella. Chilwell remains sidelined, so it’s hard to see Chelsea cashing in on their only available left-back.
The Blues made around £230m through player sales over the summer and are keen to sell more deadwood. But does Cucurella have many suitors? And do Chelsea have a replacement lined up if he did leave in January? It might be best for Chelsea to wait until the summer to make significant changes to their first-team.
Cucurella has been used as a makeshift right-back in Reece James’ stead, so he’s still a player they need. Chelsea would surely want most of the £60m back to sell him, plus £175k-per-week wages, so a sale looks unlikely.
In other news, Mauricio Pochettino confirms Reece James picked up hamstring injury
