Cucurella confirms Chelsea transfer decision with new £14m deal agreed

Marc Cucurella has admitted that he is not looking to leave Chelsea this summer despite suggestions that he could be one of several players sold by the club in the coming months. It comes with the Blues closing in on signing another young defender able to play on the left.

Basel’s 20-year-old talent, Renato Veiga, is set to have his medical at Cobham after a deal worth £14million was agreed, football.london understands. A fee of £17million is also expected to secure Boca Juniors centre-back Aaron Anselmino, although he will likely spend the next year in Argentina.

The moves continue a mass youth recruitment drive under Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital that has taken off in the last two summers. It leaves a host of promising youngsters in reserve across the field despite sales of other well-regarded players. At left-back that has been exits for Ian Maatsen (£37.5million) and Lewis Hall (£28million).

Cucurella, who signed for £62million in the first summer of the new ownership’s tenure, has so far outlasted Cobham’s finest even when playing through poor form. He is now impressing with Spain at Euro 2024 and looks to have a spot under Enzo Maresca in 2024/25.

His upturn in performance levels so far this year hasn’t stopped Chelsea from pursuing other options though, and an exit is still possible. He was on the verge of leaving 12 months ago before injuries left Mauricio Pochettino short and Cucurella was handed another chance.

Now, he has opened up on what his future may hold. “La Liga is my home, but I’m very happy in England,” he said when speaking ahead of Spain’s semi-final against France on Tuesday. “Which is a great experience for me and my family.”

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Cucurella had come through the Barcelona academy before joining Getafe, where he caught the eye of Brighton as well as a host of clubs including Chelsea. The Seagulls snapped him up though and cashed in a massive profit when selling him to Stamford Bridge with Manchester City interested in his services at the time.

Since then things have been largely tough and his comments professing a home away from SW6 could frustrate many who have stood by him in difficult times. He was even ridiculed before the tournament by Gary Neville but has shaken off the comments to put together a strong body of work in Germany. “That price tag still, to be fair, astounds everybody I think to this day,” the former Manchester United defender said.

“The Spanish defence has got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re going to go all the way. And I have to say, him [Cucurella] being at left-back probably is another example of why we think that.”

Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain have played some of the best football in the tournament, turning instead to youth across the pitch. Most notably on the wings he has relied on 21-year-old Nico Williams and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

Williams is a player Chelsea strongly admire, football.london understands, and talks over a possible summer transfer have been held. However, the Basque player’s wage demands make any progress towards a move unlikely at this stage.

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Speaking of his relationship with Williams, Cucurella explained: “The chemistry is based off the field. We found it without looking for it. We have similar personalities, happy people. Let him invent, I’ll be there for whatever is needed.”

Cucurella will now be hoping, beyond Euro 2024, that he can strike up similar bonds with his teammates at Chelsea.