Manchester United came very close to signing Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal to solve their left-back shortage.
According to Football Insider, Manchester United were extremely close to signing Mac Cucurella on a season-long loan deal. The Red Devils wanted to address their shortcomings at left-back following Luke Shaw’s injury but ultimately could not agree a deal with Chelsea.
Manchester United have had a disastrous start to the season, and much of it is down to the many injuries they have suffered since the campaign began. Erik ten Hag has chopped and changed his backline due to absentees, including left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
The England international has since returned to light training and might join the main group before the week’s end, but still short of featuring against Everton on Sunday. Shaw suffered an injury late in the summer window, which put Manchester United in the hunt for a late replacement.
Marc Cucurella emerged as a big target late in the window, and now the report revealed that Manchester United came very close to signing the 25-year-old Chelsea star. The Spaniard had fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge and did not play a Premier League clash until the season’s seventh game.
Manchester United would have liked the defender to join their ranks but ultimately could not agree to Chelsea’s terms. After the move failed, the 25-year-old Spaniard faced a brief exile from the team, which saw him miss the first six games.
Cucurella has since fought his way up, and now Mauricio Pochettino is ready to hand him a lifeline at Chelsea. Injuries to Ben Chillwell and Reece James saw the 25-year-old Chelsea star play on either side of the defence, with his upturn in form coinciding with that of the club.
Erik ten Hag wanted the Spaniard, but after the move failed to materialise, he switched the attention towards Tottenham’s unwanted star Sergio Reguilon. The on-loan Spurs star has made a mild impact, but not to the point of becoming an automatic starter.
With Shaw inching closer to first-team action, Reguilon has a fight on his hands to convince Ten Hag of a place in the squad. In truth, the Manchester United boss would prefer to play Shaw and Malacia in the left-back position, as there are chances of the club activating a reported break clause in the Spurs star’s contract.
As for Cucurella, he must keep performing at his current levels and more to keep his place in Pochettino’s squad. While some may argue Chelsea are fortunate to have not let go of the defender, they surely have benefitted from the 25-year-old staying rather than playing for their rivals this season.
