Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has seen his agent come out to deny transfer reports linking him with a move to Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish left-back signed for £62million last summer in a big-money move from Brighton as one of the best in his position in the Premier League during the 2021/22 campaign but has failed to find the same form at Stamford Bridge.
Having been a big target for Manchester City 12 months ago, Cucurella found himself wildly out of form during his first season in London despite being swiftly reunited with former Seaulls boss Graham Potter. Now, with Pochettino heading into the club, Chelsea are making brutal moves to sell their undperforming players.
Kalidou Koulibaly came in before Cucurella and has been moved on already this window, finding himself a new home in the Saudi Pro League. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz's inconsistent three years has been ended with a £65million transfer to Arsenal.
With Pochettino keen to not only shed his squad of players out of sorts but also cut down the playing group to a more managaeable size, Cucurella finds himself in limbo. At 24 he is still a player that can develop and may well bounce back, however, if an offer came in there are very few players deemed as unsellable in the current set-up.
Such thoughts lead to Spanish papers reporting that Atletico Madrid were willing to pay £55million to make him part of Diego Simeone's set-up for next year.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Kylian Mbappe hope, Barcelona bid 'confirmed', Colwill contract
Cucurella's agent, Álvaro Dominguez, has put an end to those rumours, though. Taking to Instagram, he wrote: "Fake news [cross emoji]" over the story.
Cucurella will now have a serious fight on his hands to get himself back into the Chelsea squad with Ben Chilwell the first choice left-back. He signed a new two-year extension with the Blues earlier this year and has proven himself to be a world-class option when fit.
His continued injury issues have left Chelsea managers pondering over an effective way to deputise for him, though, and Cucurella will be hoping he can solidify his place in the squad despite the emergence of teenager Lewis Hall.
There is also the returning loanee of Ian Maatsen. He has had two impressive spells away with Coventry and Burnley in the Championship and looks set for Premier League football in 2023/24 whether it is for Chelsea or for another side.
Due to the competition ahead of him and the overlapping skillset between him and Hall as versatile wing-backs, full-backs and midfielders, Maatsen is reportedly available for a sale for around £30million this summer.
Cucurella, with his experience and previous body of work as an exciting, attacking defender, appears to have the nod on the pair of youngsters and will now be looking to cement his role over the summer and during pre-season.
