Chelsea are expecting to receive offers for Marc Cucurella this summer
The summer transfer window hasn’t even opened yet, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill whirring away at a formidable pace. With the World Cup just over a week away, clubs are scrambling to get deals in place before the big kick-off in North America, which will see hundreds of elite players fully focused on international football, rather than their next transfer move.
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According to reports, the Spanish full-back is of great interest to Atletico Madrid, who could meet Chelsea’s rumoured asking price of around £60m. Cucurella has previously hinted that he could be tempted with a move away this summer, and with new boss Xabi Alonso arriving next month, he could look to leave before the new era begins.
Should the haystack-haired left-back bid farewell to Stamford Bridge, the Blues would be left with limited options in his position: Jorrell Hato, who isn’t an out-and-out left-back, and new signing Valentin Barco, a 21-year-old Argentina international who will join the club permanently from sister club RC Strasbourg later this summer.
As Chelsea contemplate a future without Cucurella, we’ve rounded up the replacements they could look to target - including hidden gems from European football and well-known stars already plying their trade in the Premier League.
The top quality Cucurella replacements Chelsea could sign - Hall to Cambiaso
Lewis Hall - Newcastle United: Chelsea have a long and embarrassing history of selling top quality players far too soon. Extreme examples being Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah, but also academy prospects such as Nathan Ake, Declan Rice and Jamal Musiala were discarded far too soon.
You can add Hall to that list - a player who was deeply unlucky to miss out on England’s controversial World Cup squad. He pocketed Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in the Champions League earlier this season, and is emerging as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. The Blues have been linked with bringing him back this summer, but they won’t be the only club in the mix.
Andrea Cambiaso - Juventus: Looking a little further afield, Cambiaso is another name who’s been linked with a summer move to Stamford Bridge. The Serie A star is said to have an asking price of around £43m, which Chelsea would have no trouble paying should Cucurella be sold. The 26-year-old is in the prime of his career, and has 19 caps for Italy.
It’s worth noting at this juncture that the west Londoners won’t have their pick of the transfer market this summer, with their failure to qualify for Europe likely to negatively impact the business they can do. Man City have also been linked with Cambiaso, and should they also make a move, the winner of that particular transfer battle is obvious.
Nathaniel Brown - Eintracht Frankfurt: Arsenal are also after a new left-back, and German gem Brown is said to be among their key targets. Chelsea are in the race too, however, with the player set to have a price tag sitting at around £52m. He can also play in a more advanced position on the left wing, which would provide welcome competition for unconvincing duo Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens.
Interest in the 22-year-old is only set to grow this month, when he stars on the world stage with Germany. Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also said to be among his admirers, which could make it an uphill struggle for the Blues to get their man. Still, new manager Alonso will have considerable pull, which is a factor that can’t be underestimated.
The top quality Cucurella replacements Chelsea could sign - Grimaldo to Mitchell
Alejandro Grimaldo - Bayer Leverkusen: Grimaldo has been linked with a switch to the Premier League for the best part of a decade, with the move never quite materialising. Could this summer finally be the one? He dazzled under Alonso when Leverkusen won the Bundesliga back in 2024, and could be tempted to reunite with his former boss.
The ex-Barcelona youth academy product is now 30-years-old, and wouldn’t be a long-term investment. However, it’s clear that Chelsea need to get some experienced signings on board, and two or three solid seasons at the club could be a decent return for a player unlikely to cost too much - given that his current contract expires next summer.
David Raum - RB Leipzig: The powerhouse 28-year-old defender has been tearing it up in Germany for his whole career to date, but whispers of a big summer move to the Premier League have continued to grow in recent weeks. A born leader and RB Leipzig’s skipper, Raum could be an ideal character to enforce Alonso’s ethos on the pitch.
Interestingly, he’s recently been linked with a move to Bournemouth, having previously played under their incoming new manager Marco Rose. The Cherries do have Europa League football to offer next season, but the Blues’ stature in the game should be enough to sell him the long-term project he could become a part of at Stamford Bridge.
Tyrick Mitchell - Crystal Palace: A bit of a left-field option to finish off with, but interest in the 26-year-old Europa Conference League winner is continuing to build. Manchester United are latest club to be linked with a move for Mitchell, who has played a pivotal role in the Eagles’ impressive recent trophy-winning history.
Mitchell is somewhat of an underrated gem and, like Hall, was unfortunate not to be include in the Three Lions’ World Cup squad. His defensive tenacity is particularly impressive and, given how leaky the Blues were at the back last season, could bring some much needed stability to an otherwise shaky back four.
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