On loan from Chelsea? Why Marc Cucurella could be a clever signing for Man United

With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia out injured, Manchester United’s only left-back option in the squad is Álvaro Fernandez. Last weekend, Diogo Dalot filled the void in the 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest. With all that in mind, manager Erik ten Hag has been desperate to bring in one additional player, and in Marc Cucurella, a solution has now been found. According to various media reports, Man United would like to loan the Spaniard from Chelsea. 

According to The Athletic and Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the two Premier League rivals have held extensive talks. Furthermore, Man United have already reached personal terms with the player. The 25-year-old has been mostly a backup for Ben Chilwell at Chelsea and has yet to feature this season. Chelsea signed Cucurella for €65.3 million from Brighton last summer, and remains one of the ten most expensive signings in the club’s history. 

Man United, in the meantime, have invested €200m in just three new players this summer and earned just €37m in player sales. Also, Man United not only want to sign a new left-back but are also interested in Tottenham’s Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Those budget constraints could make discussions with Chelsea difficult as the Blue, in turn, need to earn money on the market before the window closes on September 1. Cucurella is under contract at Chelsea until 2028 and managed 33 games for the club last season. Overall, his stint has been a disappointment, and his market value dropped from €55m to just €20m ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Marc Cucurella: Can the Spaniard fix Man United’s issues at left-back?

With all that in mind, why does Ten Hag want to sign the Spaniard? At first glance, this transfer appears to be a bit of a panic buy. After all, with just days left before the window closes, Cucurella is one of the few available options on the market at the moment. Furthermore, signing the Spaniard on a loan deal might leave enough resources for United to sign another piece this summer.

Then there is the fact that Cucurella has previously shown at Brighton that he has the potential to be one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. During his final campaign with Brighton, Cucurella led the league with 151 ground duels won, 25 successful crosses from open play, 2827 touches, and was third with 28 successful dribbles. That potential is still there, and Ten Hag should have the ability to coach Cucurella back to a level in which he could not just help Man United but also restore his market value.