Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino speaks out on Man Utd's bid for Marc Cucurella

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says he is unaware if the club have received an approach from Manchester United for Marc Cucurella but insists he is still counting on the Spaniard.

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The Red Devils have been hit by an injury crisis at left-back, with Luke Shaw expected to be sidelined until November with a muscular problem while usual deputy Tyrell Malacia is also out of action.

United have reached out to a host of clubs in order to tee up potential deals, with Cucurella, Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon and Barcelona’s Marcos Alonso among the many options being discussed.

Cucurella, who moved to Stamford Bridge in a £62million deal from Brighton last summer, is behind Ben Chilwell in the Chelsea pecking order while Ian Maatsen is also capable of playing at left-back and left wing-back.

He is yet to start a competitive fixture under Pochettino so far this season but the Argentine says Cucurella does feature in his plans – though suggested that things can change quickly.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match against AFC Wimbledon, Pochettino said of United’s rumoured interest in Cucurella: ‘I cannot talk about suppositions and rumours.

‘I cannot talk rumours. I think, at the moment, nothing has changed.

‘For tomorrow he’s going to be available to play and at the moment the club have not informed me anything about this situation.’

Asked if Cucurella is a player he wants to keep, Pochettino continued: ‘All the players that are in our squad are players that are in our plan.

‘And then, like always, it’s about situations: players and club, club and players. And then it’s a decision.

‘But at the moment all the players that are in the squad are in our plan.

‘Even if, in that case, they didn’t play at the moment but we need 22 or 23 players in the squad.’

Asked if he hopes to bring in any new additions himself, Pochettino replied: ‘I know the club is working hard to finish our business.

‘Maybe yes [something can happen]. At the moment I am only working and letting the club deliver what we want.’

Chelsea are light on options in the attacking areas with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka and Mykhailo Mudryk all currently sidelined, and Pochettino is thought to be keen to bring one more versatile forward in before Friday’s transfer deadline.

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