English Premier League (EPL) Chelsea’s Mark Cucurella (25-Spain) could be set to leave the club after just one season.
“EPL side Newcastle have added Chelsea’s Cucurella to their list of targets ahead of next season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL),” the Mirror reported on Aug. 18.
“Cucurella joined Chelsea in August last year, but new manager Mauricio Pochettino is said to be looking to sell him as he tries to clear out his squad,” the outlet claimed.
The outlet went on to estimate a transfer fee of just €30 million. Considering that Chelsea paid £60 million ($98 billion) for Cucurella last year, this would be a literal fire sale. According to European soccer statistics source Transfermarkt, Kukurela is the most expensive left-back in history.안전놀이터
The former Spanish La Liga Espanyol and Barcelona youth player joined Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2021 after leaving Getafe for the EPL.
In 35 EPL appearances in 2021-22, Cucurella scored one goal and provided one assist, splitting time between left wingback and fullback. Brighton finished the season in ninth place in the EPL, and Cucurella was named the club’s Player of the Year.
Ahead of the 2022-23 season, he was approached by Chelsea. The Blues didn’t have a left-back at the time, and Kukurela, who had been a regular in the league, was seen as the perfect fit.
The key was the transfer fee. Kukurella was under contract with Brighton until 2026, so a hefty transfer fee was inevitable. However, Chelsea spent £60 million on Kukurela alone, tying him down to a massive contract until 2028.
Kukurela (below) competes for the ball during a game against Newcastle last November.
However, Kukurela’s performances have been disappointing. His final tally for the 2022-23 season was two assists in 33 games. He had an up-and-down season in the league and a lapse in concentration at UCL. In the end, a muscle injury ended his season prematurely.
With Pochettino at the helm, Chelsea’s first priority is to clean up the squad. Despite making a number of signings during the season, Chelsea finished 12th in the EPL and missed out on European competition. Several players have been placed on the release list, and it looks like Cuccurella, who has underperformed, is one of them.