Chelsea keen to replace Marc Cucurella with £15m Englishman - report

Chelsea are ready to sell left-back Marc Cucurella as they prepare for a summer overhaul of the position, a report has claimed.

Posted Saturday, March 02, 2024 by 90min.com

The Blues began the season with four left-backs on the books but have dropped that number to two, with Lewis Hall and Ian Maatsen sealing loan moves to Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

Hall's move includes a conditional obligation for a permanent transfer which Chelsea expect to be trigged, while Maatsen will be made available for sale when he returns from Dortmund. His contract includes a £35m release clause.

According to The Guardian, Chelsea are also prepared to listen to offers for current deputy Cucurella, who has struggled horribly since his £62m move from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 and has missed most of this season with an ankle injury.

Cucurella's exit would leave Chelsea with only vice-captain Ben Chilwell on the books and so the Blues are expected to dip back into the transfer market for cover.

Gent's Brown is a possible target

On the radar is 21-year-old Archie Brown of Belgian side Gent. Brown came through the Derby County academy as a winger before joining Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS at Lausanne-Sport and transitioning to a left-back in 2021.

He joined Gent last summer and has caught the eye in Belgium, and he is expected to receive several offers this summer. West Ham United are keen on Brown, while Juventus, AC Milan, Lyon and Nice are all known admirers.

Brown, who has even helped out at centre-back due to his 6'3 frame, is valued at £15m.

Height in defence has been a real concern for Pochettino, who has often deployed centre-back Levi Colwill out wide to try and boost his side's aerial threat. Colwill's long-term future is in a central role, however, leaving Chelsea forced to find a solution in the transfer market.