29 August 2023 , 13:22
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Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella leads a six-man shortlist as Manchester United look for reinforcements at left-back.
United have been hit by injury issues in the position, with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both out of action. With back-up Brandon Williams loaned out to Ipswich, youngster Alvaro Fernandez is their only recognised left-back, though Diogo Dalot filled in on the left in Saturday's victory over Nottingham Forest.
Rico Henry and Sergio Reguilon are the other Premier League names on the list. There is also interest in Marcos Alonso of Barcelona, Nico Tagliafico of Ajax, and Roma and Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola.
Cucurella was a high-profile arrival at Chelsea last summer, but the £62m ex-Brighton man has dropped down the pecking order. Mauricio Pochettino has played Levi Colwill ahead of him so far this season, with Ben Chilwell used further forward and Ian Maatsen also an option in the position.
Henry has been a regular in the league for Brentford, but Reguilon remains sidelined at Spurs. The Spanish international spent last season on loan at Atletico Madrid, but did not earn a permanent switch to the Rojiblancos.
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Reports in Italy suggest United have approached Roma over Spinazzola, who played 26 times in Serie A last season after recovering from the achilles injury he suffered at Euro 2020. A reunion with Ajax defender Tagliafico is another option for Ten Hag, as is a Premier League return for ex-Chelsea star Alonso, though the latter is understood to be happy at Barcelona.
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Chelsea's Marc Cucurella could add Premier League experience (MICAH CROOK/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock)Ten Hag is after reinforcements after losing Shaw for an unspecified period. The England international will not return to action before the international break, and could remain unavailable for some time beyond that.
Malacia and Shaw could both be out of action until November, accelerating the need for a new face. A loan move for Cucurella appears to be furthest along the line, while Alonso's personal preferences mean he is one of the less like arrivals.
Ten Hag also lost the services of Raphael Varane last time out. The French defender was withdrawn at the break against Nottingham Forest, and it remains to be seen whether he is fit to return for Sunday's game against Arsenal.
"He had complaints," Ten Hag said of Varane. "So we didn't want to risk him. We know we have Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, good replacements.
"So we don't take the risk, but what the complaint is and if it is really bad, we don't know. We have to wait."