UMVA has learned that Marc Cucurella could be on his way out of Chelsea this summer, with Manchester City and Barcelona reportedly lining up moves for the talented Spanish defender.
Cucurella, who joined Chelsea in 2022 for a hefty £60m transfer fee, has silenced his critics with impressive performances over the past two seasons, making over 50 appearances for the Blues and helping the team win the Club World Cup and Conference League under former boss Enzo Maresca.
The 27-year-old defender has enjoyed a successful stint at Chelsea, but sources close to the player suggest he is open to a summer move after a disappointing season that saw the team finish 10th in the Premier League.
Manchester City are believed to be keen on reuniting Cucurella with Maresca, who is expected to take over as Pep Guardiola's successor at the Etihad Stadium.
Barcelona, where Cucurella started his career, and Atletico Madrid are also reportedly interested in signing the versatile defender, who is contracted to Chelsea for another three seasons.
Chelsea are understood to be willing to sell Cucurella this summer, but only if their valuation of around 70m euros (£61m) is met.
Cucurella recently expressed his frustration with Chelsea's policy of signing young players, citing a lack of experience as a reason for the team's poor performance in the Champions League.
The defender also criticised the club's decision to sack Maresca and replace him with inexperienced manager Liam Rosenior, which he believes had a significant impact on the team's stability.
Enzo Fernandez, another Chelsea player, is also believed to be keen on leaving the club amid interest from Real Madrid.
Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager, who will take charge of the club in July, but it's unclear how he plans to strengthen the squad.
Cucurella's potential departure would be a significant blow to Chelsea, who have invested heavily in the defender's development.
