Few have been handed a cleaner opportunity to recoup value on a player than the one sitting in front of Chelsea this summer. Marc Cucurella is reportedly open to leaving the club, with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid all keeping tabs on the Spain international. In the modern market, hesitation rarely pays off when the selling club and the player want the same outcome.
The timing is just about right for all concerned at Stamford Bridge. The 28-year-old defender arrived from Brighton in 2022 for €65.3 million and has been a regular since. Chelsea have reportedly put a price tag of around €50m on his head, and a number of Spanish suitors appear ready to listen. For somebody his age, a fee in this market is good business.
There’s already a Cucurella replacement at the club in Jorrel Hato. The 2025 summer signing has already made it clear that he’s delighted to start games under Xabi Alonso:
“I think Chelsea made a good decision to get Xabi Alonso. He’s a big name, so I’m very excited. I’ve played in a back three and a back four, for me I don’t care about where I want to play. I just want to play.”
How Xabi Alonso’s Arrival Changes Everything for Cucurella
Quietly, the arrival of a new manager has changed the whole conversation about the future of the Spaniard. Cucurella’s form has dropped considerably since Enzo Maresca left, and Chelsea have a ready-made replacement in Jorrel Hato. The Blues might decide that it’s a lot smarter to be selling from a position of strength in Alonso’s squad than selling out of desperation later.
Then, there is the matter of how they fit in tactically under the new boss. There is no obvious place for Marc Cucurella if Alonso were to play the 3-4-3 system that he used to such great effect at Bayer Leverkusen. He’s not exactly suited to the wide centre-back role and may not fit the demands of a wing-back.
Finally, there is just too much financial logic at this stage to ignore. Chelsea have already made plans to bring in Valentin Barco for the 2026-27 season, a versatile option across the left flank. Cashing in on Cucurella now might help to safeguard both the squad and the balance sheet.