Euro 2024 star is proof Chelsea should AVOID key summer transfer

21 Jun 2024 12:30 BST
4 min read

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea, Leicester, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Signing a new left-back has been on Chelsea's radar for the past year.

The Blues have spent over €1 billion on new signings since Todd Boehly replaced Roman Abramovich as the club’s owner, but they are still a fair way off their dream squad.

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Chelsea are in the market for a new goalkeeper, a new left-back and a new striker, while the west London club have also been linked with purchasing a centre-back and at least one new winger.

While many of those positions remain a large issue for the Blues, left-back has regularly been pointed to as arguably their most pressing problem.

Ben Chilwell is a liability from a fitness perspective, and has seen his level drop off since a fantastic first campaign at the club, while Marc Cucurella has been inconsistent following his big-money move from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester City were sensible to withdraw from the race to sign Cucurella in 2022, after learning Brighton's valuation, but Chelsea were determined to sign the Spaniard.

However, since arriving at Chelsea, Cucurella has struggled to replicate the form that saw him earn mass plaudits on the south coast.

He has often been poor from a positional standpoint, while his aggressiveness has led to space being exploited in behind Chelsea's left-back zone on a regular basis. Criticism levelled at him has been largely warranted.

However, he was impressive in a new inverted left-back role during the final weeks of Mauricio Pochettino's reign and has begun Euro 2024 in fine form.

© IMAGO - Marc Cucurella joined Chelsea in 2022

Do Chelsea need to sign a new left-back?

Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo was expected to start for Spain after a stellar first season in Germany, but Luis de la Fuente opted to include Cucurella in his starting XI against both Croatia and Italy. In both games, the Chelsea man was superb.

While his tendency to abandon the defensive line in order to press an opponent can be a huge weakness, it's paid off so far in Germany and Cucurella has formed a wonderful left wing partnership with Nico Williams already.

He has arguably been the best left-back at the tournament so far and looks at home at the highest level of international football.

As a result, Chelsea should seriously consider avoiding signing a new left-back this summer.

Cucurella’s form is one key reason for this, and he looks perfectly suited to playing in an Enzo Maresca system.

STATS

26

Games
1

Goals
2

Assists

Furthermore, the lack of top quality left-backs available on the market means Chelsea risk overpaying for a player who may not improve their starting XI.

Chilwell and Cucurella are also contracted to the club until 2027 and 2028 respectively, meaning the Blues may find it hard to shift either player this summer and adding a third senior left-back would be rather foolish.

In addition, Chelsea have an extremely talented left-back currently plying his trade in their U21 side - Ishe Samuels-Smith.

The 18-year-old joined the club from Brighton’s academy in 2022 and was a top performer last campaign.

Capable of playing at left-back or at centre-back, Samuels-Smith is a future star and although Chelsea appear enchanted by the idea of signing a shiny new toy, the wise decision may be to stick with Cucurella and Chilwell, and trust Maresca to slowly embed Samuels-Smith into the first-team picture.