Man Utd ‘submit first Marc Cucurella bid’ as Chelsea list demands for late deal

Football Digest: Man Utd with work to do after sluggish start

Manchester United have opened talks with Chelsea to discuss the potential signing of Marc Cucurella on loan as Erik ten Hag looks to seal another deal before Friday’s transfer deadline. The Red Devils have reportedly submitted their first bid for the defender after being left critically short of defensive options following injuries to Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane, with Ten Hag deciding to make a move for the out-of-favour full-back.

United are currently left without a senior left-back ahead of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both out injured.

Only 20-year-old Alvaro Fernandez is fit, with Ten Hag using Diogo Dalot at left-back against Nottingham Forest.

There are also concerns over Varane’s fitness with the Frenchman undergoing a scan to discover the extent of his latest injury. And Ten Hag has moved to resolve both issues with Cucurella at the top of his list of targets.

READ MORE Man Utd ‘very close’ to signing Cucurella and deal to trigger another exit[GOSSIP]

The Athletic report United have made their first move and Chelsea have ‘responded’, suggesting they could be open to a deal.

Negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs as they look to thrash out an agreement, with the west London club demanding around £7million up front to let Cucurella depart on loan.

Chelsea paid Brighton a club-record £62m fee to sign the Spain international only 12 months ago – the highest fee they had ever spent on a defender – but the left-back has largely struggled to reproduce the same form that saw him earn the plaudits on the South Coast.

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The 25-year-old has been left as an unused substitute in all three of Chelsea’s opening Premier League matches, with Ben Chilwell and Ian Maatsen both ahead of the former Barcelona star in the pecking order.

While Mauricio Pochettino confirmed he would be in contention to play in the Carabao Cup against AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday, the Argentinian was coy when asked about the possibility of Cucurella leaving before Friday’s transfer deadline.

“I cannot talk about supposition or rumours,” Pochettino said in a news conference. “For tomorrow he [Cucurella] is going to be able to play.

“The club did not communicate [anything] to me. All of the players that are in our squad are in our plans even if they didn’t play at the moment.”

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