Man Utd ‘submit proposal’ for £60m Chelsea flop Ten Hag sees as a ‘good fit’ amid injury crisis
Manchester United have made an official offer to sign Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella on loan, according to David Ornstein.
Erik ten Hag is in the market for a new left-back after Luke Shaw joined Tyrell Malacia on the club’s injury list.
A host of unexpected names have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, emphasising Ten Hag’s desperation to get a new left-back through the door.
Ashley Young and Ryan Bertrand have been the most amusing names to come up, with Lyon’s Nicolas Tagliafico, Barcelona’s ex-Chelsea player Marcos Alonso and Tottenham outcast Sergio Reguilon also linked.
Cucurella has always seemed like the most realistic target, however.
The Spaniard had a difficult debut season at Chelsea after the Blues paid around £60million to sign him following a terrific 2021/22 campaign at Brighton.
OPINION: Marc Cucurella left-field loan deal is a win-win for Manchester United and Chelsea…
United’s interest has now turned into an official offer, according to The Athletic transfer expert Ornstein.
The report says the Red Devils have offered to take Cucurella – who has been an unused substitute in Chelsea’s opening three Premier League fixtures – on loan, we assume for the entirety of 23/24.
Chelsea have ‘responded’ and are now in direct talks with their Premier League rivals.
Both clubs are ‘discussing various parameters around’ United’s offer to sign Cucurella on an ‘initial loan’.
Ten Hag sees the Spanish defender as a ‘good fit’ in his system and is his ‘top candidate’ at this moment in time.
Blues vice-captain Ben Chilwell is currently above Cucurella in Mauricio Pochettino’s pecking order, while Ian Maatsen has been coming off the bench ahead of the former Brighton man.
Meanwhile, with Shaw and Malacia absent, Ten Hag turned to natural right-back Diogo Dalot on Saturday against Nottingham Forest.
United’s only available left-back is currently 20-year-old Alvaro Fernandez.
Speaking on Tuesday, Chelsea manager Pochettino insisted Cucurella is a part of his plans for the new season.
“I cannot talk about supposition or rumours. For tomorrow (against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup) he (Cucurella) is going to be able to play,” Pochettino said.
“The club did not communicate (anything else) to me. All of the players that are in our squad are in our plans even if they didn’t play at the moment.”
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