Manchester United Submit Loan Bid for Cucurella
Manchester United have made a loan offer to Chelsea for left-back Marc Cucurella, according to The Athletic. The move comes as United scramble for reinforcements following the injury to Luke Shaw, which could see him sidelined for up to two months. With Tyrell Malacia also out due to a knee injury and his return date unclear, manager Erik ten Hag has had to explore temporary solutions. The club reportedly considered options such as Sergio Reguilón, Marcos Alonso, and Nicolas Tagliafico before settling on Cucurella as their preferred target. Cucurella, 25, has yet to feature for Chelsea this season, with Mauricio Pochettino favouring Ben Chilwell in the left-back position. The Blues are said to be open to allowing the Spaniard to leave on a season-long loan. In the absence of both Shaw and Malacia, Ten Hag deployed Diogo Dalot on the left side during United’s victory over Nottingham Forest, with Alvaro Fernández remaining on the bench. Cucurella’s potential arrival would provide the much-needed depth and experience United seek at the position.
Varane Adds to United’s Injury Woes
Raphaël Varane’s injury during Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest has deepened the club’s injury crisis, adding another name to an already lengthy list of sidelined players. The French defender, widely regarded as United’s most reliable centre-half, now joins Luke Shaw and Mason Mount in the treatment room, leaving Erik ten Hag severely limited in options across the pitch. Varane’s injury couldn’t come at a worse time, with Rasmus Højlund, Tyrell Malacia, and Kobbie Mainoo also unavailable. Varane is expected to miss the crucial clash against Arsenal at the Emirates, followed by the international break. His absence will likely see Victor Lindelöf partner Lisandro Martínez in central defence. As per Kaveh Solhekol of Football Daily, Varane will focus on recovery and rehabilitation in the coming weeks, but his injury is a significant blow to United’s backline, which is already stretched thin.
Maguire to Remain at Old Trafford
Harry Maguire will remain at Manchester United for the 2023/24 season, with the club informing West Ham United that the defender is no longer available for transfer. The Hammers had a £30 million bid accepted for Maguire earlier in the window, but the deal reportedly fell through over wage disagreements. West Ham manager David Moyes had hoped to make Maguire his new captain, but those plans have now been shelved. According to The Times, United are no longer looking to sell the centre-back, and he is set to stay despite being fourth in Erik ten Hag’s pecking order. With Lisandro Martínez, Raphaël Varane, and Victor Lindelöf ahead of him, Maguire is unlikely to see much playing time this season, barring an injury crisis. Maguire’s limited role at United may also affect his chances of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming European Championships. Fans are divided on whether keeping the former captain is the right decision, and questions remain over his future at Old Trafford. Let us know in the comments how you feel about Maguire staying and whether this impacts his international prospects.
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