Chelsea defender Cucurella is Atletico Madrid’s left-back target this summer | OneFootball

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella is attracting interest from Spain, where Atletico Madrid are keen on pricing him away from Stamford Bridge, according to AS.

The ‘phenomenal’ Chelsea left-back is a target for Los Colchoneros to bolster a position that has not been reinforced properly for years.

Cucurella has caught the eye with his performances for the Blues. His defensive tenacity is admirable and he is improving his contributions in the final third.

The 27-year-old has been a mainstay in the Chelsea first-team under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior this term.

Chelsea recently renewed Cucurella’s deal and have no plans to let the Spain international (23 caps) leave this summer.

However, that has not stopped Atletico Madrid from probing.

Cucurella recently criticised Chelsea’s haphazard project, subtly slamming BlueCo’s youth vision and decision to sack Maresca.

While that does not mean he is unhappy in West London, it might encourage Atletico Madrid to make a serious offer.

But allowing Cucurella to depart now sends the wrong message about Chelsea’s direction at a time when stability is desperately needed.

This is a squad stacked with promise but still short on players who truly understand the demands of competing at the highest level week in, week out.

He is one of the few who boast that required experience. Cucurella’s presence carries weight beyond just performances on the pitch.

There is a composure and know-how to his game that cannot be easily replaced in a dressing room still finding its identity.

Letting go of one of the few players in his prime, who has experienced both adversity and expectation, will worsen the imbalance in the squad.

Chelsea have already leaned heavily into youth, and stripping away another layer of experience is a reckless move.

If they are serious about building something sustainable, this is exactly the kind of decision they must avoid.

Selling Cucurella under any circumstances will be a grave mistake.