EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham offer solution to Chelsea’s Cucurella problem

Steve Kay

• 8 Jul 2023 17:30 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Tottenham are closely following the situation of Marc Cucurella at Chelsea, sources have revealed to FootballTransfers.

Spurs are ready to bring in Cucurella, who moved to the Blues from Brighton last summer for £55 million (€65m) as a replacement for veteran Croatia international Ivan Perisic.

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Chelsea are desperate to offload the player, who they made the most expensive left-back in history in 2022, although the situation is complicated for them. It is unclear exactly what type of fee they will seek for the once-capped Spain international.

Cucurella wants to remain at the club and has begun pre-season training as planned, yet Spurs could offer him an attractive exit given their status and location.

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Postecoglou has a plan for Cucurella

New Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou wants to bring the 24-year-old in to play alongside Yves Bissouma in the new system he wants his team to play next season.

Postecoglou, who is very much an attack minded manager sees Cucurella as someone who can play not only as a wing-back but also a player who can feature as an inverted full-back, which will allow Bissouma to push further forward and possible new signing Micky van de Ven to move across into left-back.

Bissouma and Cucurella would be rekindling a partnership that they previously enjoyed at Brighton.

Tottenham looked to sign Cucurella when Antonio Conte was manager, but he chose to go to Chelsea, where he has failed to justify the mammoth fee that was paid for him 12 months ago. He was recommended at the time by Tottenham director Fabio Paratici, who FootballTransfers understands is still advising the club in a consultancy role.

Cucurella made headlines when Chelsea visited Spurs last season as he appeared to have his hair pulled by Cristian Romero in a fiery Stamford Bridge encounter in August, which was infamous for the clash between Thomas Tuchel and Conte after the full-time whistle.