Atletico Madrid are considering making a €40 million bid for Chelsea's first-choice left-back Marc Cucurella after Diego Simeone asked the board to step up their search for reinforcements to keep Atleti competitive until the end of the current season.
The Spanish press reported that the Colchonero club is looking to strengthen its left wing, which is why Diego Simeone has shown interest in signing an elite full-back, with Spanish player Marc Cucurella as his main target. Trained in Barcelona's youth academy, Cucurella has consistently improved since arriving at Chelsea from Brighton in the summer of 2022. Despite moments of inconsistency, the 27-year-old has regained his top form and has been shining in recent matches.
In total, the full-back has played 16 games for Chelsea this season, contributing two assists. In addition to being an essential part of the London squad under Enzo Maresca, Cucurella is also an important figure in the Spanish national team, as the versatile defender usually plays as a full-back or left-winger, but has recently stood out in other positions on the pitch. His high-level performances have caught the attention of several clubs, including Atleti.
Atletico Madrid's plans in the transfer window
Atletico Madrid plans to make specific signings to improve its squad. Having monitored Cucurella for months, Atletico sees him as the perfect complement to Simeone's tactical scheme, highlighting his intensity as an ideal attribute for the full-back position, with a €40 million offer being prepared.
Simeone prioritises strengthening the left-back position, and the Spaniard is one of the main names on his wish list. The club is willing to invest heavily to try to get him out of Stamford Bridge. However, it knows that the process will not be simple and is considering an initial offer of €40 million to convince Chelsea to release one of its stars.
Although the amount is considerable, the Blues may reject the offer, as Cucurella has been instrumental in the team's recent good results and there is no intention to negotiate him at the moment. Atlético is showing seriousness in the operation, which makes it intriguing to see if they are prepared to raise the stakes and finalise the signing of the 27-year-old player.