Manchester United talks with Chelsea on a loan deal for Mark Cucurella as Erik ten Hag looks to add to his squad ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.
Cucurella has emerged as the Dutch coach’s preferred candidate for the left-back position in the wake of injuries Luke Shaw And Terrell Melissa.
It is understood that Chelsea are open to allowing the Spanish defender a move to Old Trafford, but the deal is dependent on both parties reaching agreement on the fee involved after United make an offer.
United have not raised as much money through sales as they had hoped this summer and are operating within somewhat narrow limits as a result of UEFA’s new financial sustainability rules.
They have been offered a package at left-back after the news that Shaw is likely to be out until around November due to a muscle injury and with his deputy Malacia also away from returning, but Ten Hag prefers Cucurella.
The 25-year-old Spaniard has struggled to make an impression at Stamford Bridge since his £60m move from Manchester United. Brighton Last summer he has yet to feature under new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who favors him Ben Chilwell and youth Ian Matsen in the left back.
Chelsea do not expect a big departure in the left-back position, after saying goodbye to him Louis Hall This month on a one-year loan to Newcastle United With a commitment to purchase. However, there is an admission that the Cucurella deal did not work out as well as they had hoped and if he did go, Mattsen would be seen as a suitable back-up to first-choice Chilwell. Teenagers, Zack Sturge and Ash Samuels-Smith, signed this summer from Brighton W.C evertonare considered long-term prospects in this position.
Chelsea are eyeing up to a maximum of seven more departures before the deadline, possibly adding one more. They inquired about Arsenal attacker Emile Smith Row Although the interest did not override Arsenal’s initial reluctance to sell. And that has forced Chelsea to look at other targets in the situation.
Lyon’s Nicola Tagliafico, who played under Ten Hag at Ajax, is believed to be another option if no deal is reached with Chelsea over Cucurella, while United have been. Offered a number of other playersincluded Marcos Alonso in Barcelona And Sergio Reguilon is an interesting Tottenham player Fulham.
United weighed the cost of the loan deal against the risks of relying on internal options such as Diogo Dalot and Alvaro Fernandez.
The 20-year-old Fernandes, on loan at Preston, shone in the Championship last season but was never quite established at the top level and Dalot – a trade right-back – struggled as a temporary left-back in Saturday’s 3-2 win over… Nottingham Forest.
Ideally, Ten Hag would also like to sign another midfielder before the deadline on Friday But this situation Still complicated It will likely depend on United offloading players.
Scott McTominay, the Scottish midfielder, emerged as a possible late target for Bayern Munich.
Thomas Tuchel admires McTominay but there seem to be differences between what the Bayern coach and the German club want and it remains to be seen if a formal approach will be reached.
Tuchel wants number 6 – Declan Rice He was his original main target before the England midfielder joined Arsenal – although McTominay is more natural at No. 8 as Bayern are well-equipped.
United were looking for between £40-45m for McTominay earlier in the summer, but it is likely they will accept less at this late stage, even if time is running out to bring in reinforcements in midfield. Ten Hag will be preferred Fiorentina‘s Sufyan Amrabat.
United have also been linked with Bayern Ryan Gravenberchfrom Liverpool you have interest in . Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is among the midfielders offered to United late in the window.