Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino insists that Marc Cucurella will be available for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie despite reports claiming the defender wants to join Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Eyebrows have certainly been raised by reports suggesting that Manchester United could react to Luke Shaw’s injury by signing a player whose struggles have been very well documented since his move to Chelsea.
But it should not be forgotten that Marc Cucurella, around 18 months ago, was one of the most effective left-backs in the whole of the Premier League. There is a reason why Pep Guardiola had identified him as the ideal addition to his Manchester City squad.
And United found out first hand just how effective Cucurella can be when utilised as an all-action, overlapping full-back back in May of last year, the one-time Barcelona propsect scoring from long-range in Brighton’s 4-0 hammering of Ralf Rangnick’s side.
Manchester United in Chelsea talks for Marc Cucurella
So with Marca reporting that Cucurella would welcome the opportunity to join Man United on loan – Fabrizio Romano adding that negotiations between the two clubs are underway – the poodle-haired wideman surely deserves the chance to prove that dreadful Chelsea spell was the exception rather than the rule.
Pochettino was quizzed about Cucurella’s future at his Tuesday press-conference. And while he would not be drawn on those Man United links, he did insist that the 25-year-old will be available for tomorrow’s EFL cup clash with AFC Wimbledon, a potential move to Old Trafford not yet imminent for Cucurella.
Pochettino breaks silence
“I cannot talk about supposition or rumours. At the moment nothing changed. For tomorrow, (Cucurella) is going to be able to play,” Pochettino tells Football London. “The club did not communicate to me anything about this situation.
“All of the players in the squad are in our plans. Then it’s like I am always telling you. It’s about situations, players and club, club and players. Then it’s decisions. All of the players that are in our squad are in our plans, even if they didn’t play at the moment.”
According to The Independent, United are prioritising a left-back with Premier League experience. Hence the interest in Cucurella, Sergio Reguilon, Marcos Alonso and Rico Henry.