Pochettino cull to continue as Newcastle set to move for cut-price Chelsea misfit offered to LaLiga giants

Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a move for Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella as they look to add quality to their ranks for next season’s challenge.

The Magpies are way ahead of where they intended to be having finished fourth last season. Manager Eddie Howe admitted his surprise that the Tynesiders managed to secure Champions League football after his first full season in charge. The ex-Bournemouth chief kept the north-east outfit in the Premier League after replacing Steve Bruce.

But after some astute work in the transfer market, he then guided them to Europe’s elite club competition.

All at the club know that it will be tougher next term, with the prospect of some top European teams at St James’ Park.

And with that in mind, it would surprise nobody to see some quality additions during the off-season.

Howe confessed that he would not spend the club’s money aimlessly to bolster his squad.

He wants players who can make a real difference, and the Blues left-back reportedly fits the bill.

Signed from Brighton for an initial £55m, much was expected of the Spain international at Stamford Bridge.

However, he failed to hit the heights in west London and may well be vulnerable to a summer exit.

Chelsea have far too many players on their books and new manager Mauricio Pochettino knows he must trim the squad.

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And it seems as though Cucurella could be one of the players sacrificed to balance the books.

But it is open to debate as to whether they would be able to recoup what they paid for the former Getafe man.

Cucurella Newcastle connection makes perfect sense

Howe seems to be in the market for a left-back. And he will know all about what Cucurella is capable of doing.

Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth was responsible for bringing the defender to Brighton when technical direct of the Seagulls.

And, according to The Mirror, it seems as though he wants a reunion with the former Barcelona youth player at Newcastle.

The 24-year-lld failed to make a senior appearance for Barca. He was loaned out to Eibar and Getafe while on the Nou Camp books.

And it was in June 2020 that he inked permanent terms with Getafe.

He was certainly a favourite of former Brighton boss Graham Potter, who handed him 35 Premier League starts in 2021-2022.

He picked up a thigh injury in April this year, missing the rest of Chelsea’s woeful campaign.

But it may be that he is among the expected players to leave the Bridge before the start of 2023-2024.

The Alella-born star could have other options. It was reported last month that Chelsea were pondering the idea of using him as makeweight in another deal.

Joao Felix’s loan deal from Atletico Madrid has now expired but it has been suggested Pochettino wants him back for next season.

That might be a tough move to pull off and The Standard reported that Cucurella and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might be offered as a sweetener.

Whether Diego Simeone wants the Blues pair is another matter. But his relationship with Felix is said to be non-existent.

Newcastle will hope that Cucurella is not jettisoned to Madrid and he remains an option to snare ahead of next season.

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