Manchester United are on the cusp of sealing a deal to bring Marc Cucurella to Old Trafford from Premier League rivals Chelsea in a loan move that should act a salve for the Red Devils’ burning injury issues at left back.
The 25-year-old has endured a nightmare 12 months with the Blues, quickly fading from star summer signing to peripheral squad member and a fresh start at Old Trafford could be just the tonic for the Spanish defender.
Cucurella didn’t see a minute of action in any of Chelsea’s first three league fixtures of the campaign and it’s already apparent that the ex-Brighton man will struggle to beat Ben Chilwell to a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues XI.
A loan move to Manchester, where a space in the United team has opened up in the fullback’s favoured position up should suit all parties and allow Cucurella to rebuild his confidence.
But how much will United have to part with to bring Cucurella north? Let’s take a closer look at some of the figures being bandied about.
How much will Marc Cucurella cost United?
Last summer, Chelsea splurged a seismic £55m to sign Marc Cucurella from Brighton and from under the noses of another suitor for his services, Manchester City, though United won’t have to sanction anything like that kind of payout to bring him to Old Trafford.
When Cucurella was first linked with a move to the Red Devils, a loan figure of approximately £7m was muted as a possible fee for his temporary services.
However, counter-briefs out of Manchester indicated that United wanted to pay closer to £2m for what would be a short-term loan until the end of December for the left back.
Fresh updates this morning have suggested that the clubs are ready to settle on a £3m loan fee for Cucurella and at that price, it offers a hint as to the length of the contract involved, and Chelsea could have their defender back as early as January.
United set for a busy end to the window?
The emergency signing of Cucurella might not signal the end of United’s business this summer and there have been murmurings that further forays into the market could be in the works.
With Dean Henderson’s permanent £20m transfer to Crystal Palace just about over the line, United could have a late injection of funds to play with as they aim to strengthen their squad.
Erik ten Hag would ideally like to add another midfielder to his roster and though Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat has been earmarked as an option in that position by the press, you get the sense that United would have pressed the button by now if they really did fancy taking the Moroccan.
Bayern Munich starlet Ryan Gravenberch, who worked under ten Hag at Ajax, could be an alternative target in midfield, though Scott McTominay’s exit – possibly to the Bavarians – could have a large bearing on any deal there.
Wantaway Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is also rumoured to be on United’s list of targets, however, stories linking the Dane with the Manchester giants feel a little agent-driven at present and it’s unlikely that United would have the funds to sanction a £35m move for the 28-year-old.
