Manchester United make SHOCK contact with Chelsea over defender
By Evan Curnew
It is not secret that Manchester United are now in the market to sign a left-back. Luke Shaw, as The Top Flight has covered, is out at least “for weeks” and could be out for multiple months. Backup left-back Tyrell Malacia is out with an injury, with no timeline for the Dutch defender to return. The only healthy option is youngster Alvaro Fernandez, who Erik ten Hag will unlikely rely on to start matches for United. The Red Devils are going to market, and they are surprisingly looking at a Chelsea left-back.
Manchester United made contact with Chelsea for Marc Cucurella loan
Fabrizio Romano is exclusively reporting that Manchester United has asked Chelsea what the conditions for a Marc Cucurella loan deal would be. Romano states that there is yet to be a bid for Cucurella and that talks are not concrete as of now. Manchester United would like to add a left-back at an inexpensive cost, with Romano stating they have three defenders on their current shortlist.
Marc Cucurella only joined Chelsea last summer from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee initially worth £55m. The Spaniard was a starter for the majority of the season for the Blues, under Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. He played only briefly with Frank Lampard as interim manager before suffering a season-ending injury. Mauricio Pochettino looks not to have Marc Cucurella in his plans for this Chelsea rebuild, with the fullback yet to play a minute in three matches. Youngster Ian Maatsen, who has returned from loan at Burnley, is now seen as the back-up left-back.
While he may want to fight for his place at Chelsea, being loaned to Manchester United presents an interesting opportunity for Marc Cucurella. For the time being, he will likely be a starter for United and earn plenty of play-time.