Manchester United push to sign Chelsea flop defender with contract agreed
By Evan Curnew
Manchester United are in need of a left-back amid a potentially serious injury to Luke Shaw. Tyrell Malacia is also out for the time being, with no set return date. As The Top Flight has previously covered, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella was shortlisted as a potential stop-gap option for Erik ten Hag at the left-back position. It is believed United have cut down their list to just three players, but others, such as Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola and Brentford’s Rico Henry, have also been linked.
With the transfer window just days away from closing, Manchester United need to act quickly on signing a left-back, and they have seemingly defined their priority target.
Manchester United submit loan bid for Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella
First broken by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Manchester United have made a loan offer to Chelsea for Marc Cucurella. Ornstein states that Cucurella has been identified as ten Hag’s top target due to the player’s ability to play in the Dutch manager’s system. Talks are described as “ongoing” between the two English giants. Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the exact amount submitted to Chelsea by United is around £2m, which has been deemed not enough by the Blues. Romano’s latest update on the situation is Marc Cucurella has agreed to personal terms with Manchester United.
The Spaniard is reportedly keen on joining Manchester United, which makes a world of sense given he is not expected to play much under Mauricio Pochettino this season. Cucurella only joined Chelsea last summer from fellow Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion in a transfer worth £55m, with the total package potentially rising to £62m with add-ons. It is safe to say that Marc Cucurella has failed to impress at Chelsea, and the player suffered greatly from the instability at the club last season.
Should Cucurella join Manchester United, he will join a list of players departing Stamford Bridge to join Premier League rivals, including the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic.