Game over for failed Chelsea signing, as ruthless Pochettino swings the axe

Mauricio Pochettino has already seen enough from an expensive Chelsea signing who he’s ready to sever ties with before the summer window closes, per a report.

Pochettino has been keeping a close eye on all elements of his squad in pre-season. One area in particular the Argentine has much to mull over is left-back.

Indeed, Chelsea have four specialist left-backs on their first-team books at present – Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Lewis Hall and Ian Maatsen.

Chilwell is unquestionably the first choice among that quartet. Given the relative ages of the other stars and the transfer fee Cucurella cost, many might assume he’d be second in line.

However, according to a report from Chelsea expert Nathan Gissing, the Blues are ready to wave goodbye to Cucurella for good.

The Spaniard cost an eye-watering £55m (rising to £62m through add-ons) when plucked from Brighton last summer. Cucurella featured regularly amid Chilwell’s injury struggles, though rarely impressed.

Per Gissing, Pochettino has seemingly seen all he needs to see from Cucurella and has taken a dim view of the results.

Indeed, writing for Gianluca Di Marzio’s website, Gissing stated ‘Chelsea are also open to offers for Marc Cucurella, who only joined permanently from Brighton last summer.’

One might expect that’ll open the door for Lewis Hall to assume more of a significant role at Stamford Bridge. However, Gissing also noted Chelsea have internally decided Hall should make way, this time via the loan route.

Through process of elimination, that would leave the attack-minded Maatsen as Chilwell’s primary back-up.

Maatsen has impressed in pre-season, though has generally featured further forward with Pochettino reportedly wooed by his versatility.

In any case, it sounds like it’s game over for Cucurella after just a single season in the capital.

Who he might join or how much Chelsea might recoup was not speculated at in the piece.

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