Ben Chilwell missed the majority of the 2021/22 season due to a serious knee ligament injury. Chelsea really felt the absence of the England left- back for the last six months of the season, but he did make a long-awaited return against Watford on the final day of the campaign.
Chilwell had shown excellent form for the Blues up until the injury he suffered against Juventus in the Champions League. Thomas Tuchel was then forced to recall Kenedy from his loan spell to provide back-up to Marcos Alonso.
Now, with the season over, Alonso looks set to leave the club . Barcelona are firm favourites to land the Spaniard's signature, which would end the 31-year-old's almost six-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
According to Mundo Deportivo, negotiations are advanced between Barcelona and Chelsea for a deal regarding Alonso. He is expected to leave the Blues for a relatively modest fee with just over 12 months remaining on his contract at the Bridge.
This leaves Tuchel with somewhat of a dilemma at left-back, or left wing-back in this case. It remains to be seen what the fitness of Chilwell will be like in the 2022/23 season, but slight knocks might be expected due to his serious injury.
With no Alonso about, a solid backup option is required. football.london understands Chelsea are interested in signing Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion. The 23-year-old signed for the Seagulls last summer for around £16million from Getafe.
In his debut season in England, Cucurella made 35 appearances in the Premier League and impressed while doing so. The Spaniard was used in both the left-back role and left midfield position under Graham Potter.
His more impressive performances have arguably been on the left-hand side of defence. Chelsea are not the only club interested in Cucurella, though, with a number of other big clubs understood to be keeping a close eye on his situation at the Amex Stadium.
As well as this, Brighton would demand a similar fee to what they sold Ben White to Arsenal for last summer - around £50m, football.london has been told.
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