Marc Cucurella is set to join Real Madrid following the World Cup, a move that will provide Chelsea with a substantial transfer fee and open the door for Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso to arrive at Stamford Bridge. Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that Cucurella had agreed to terms with Los Blancos, despite previous indications that a deal was not imminent, with Cucurella himself recently stating his happiness at Chelsea.
Chelsea are expected to receive up to €60 million for the sale of Cucurella, with €55 million guaranteed, according to David Ornstein. Cucurella had reportedly grown disillusioned at the club, having previously voiced criticism of the ownership’s transfer policy alongside Enzo Fernandez. His departure leaves Xabi Alonso with a gap to fill, particularly in terms of experience within the squad.
Andrea Cambiaso has emerged as Chelsea’s primary target to replace Cucurella, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this month. The 26-year-old has previously attracted interest from Manchester City, but Juventus’ failure to qualify for the Champions League has altered their financial position. While Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has praised Cambiaso’s movement and intelligence, he has also acknowledged technical errors, potentially making the player more readily available for transfer.
A transfer fee in the region of €40-50 million is anticipated for Cambiaso. Data analysis from SciSports suggests that Cambiaso would immediately become a key player for Alonso, potentially enabling a switch to a three-man defensive system, a tactic Alonso successfully employed at Bayer Leverkusen. Cambiaso’s attacking qualities, particularly his crossing and dribbling, are considered superior to Cucurella’s, and his overall SciSkill score is currently higher.
Despite Cucurella possessing a higher peak SciSkill score, his recent form has been a concern. Chelsea, under Alonso, are yet to make significant strides in the transfer market, but the Cucurella sale and pursuit of Cambiaso represent a clear opportunity to strengthen the squad. The move could prove beneficial for both clubs, allowing Real Madrid to bolster their left-back options and Chelsea to secure an upgrade with a player better suited to Alonso’s tactical vision.
