Barcelona begin internal talks to sign Chelsea star in summer transfer window

Barcelona are interested in re-signing Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella and have been discussing the idea with intent in recent days, according to reports in Spain.

Cucurella is in his fourth season with Chelsea having joined the club from Brighton for a fee of £63million back in 2022 – a deal that made him the most expensive left-back in football history.

In that time, he has made 158 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, bouncing back from a tough debut season to help the club win the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup.

But doubts have intensified over Cucurella’s Stamford Bridge future in recent weeks, with the Spaniard criticising Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Liam Rosenior’s predecessor, Enzo Maresca, and highlighting a lack of experience in the squad.

Rosenior’s dismissal only added to the feeling of instability and uncertainty in west London, before interim boss Calum McFarlane steered Cucurella and Co into this year’s FA Cup final with victory over Leeds last weekend.

However, questions remain over Cucurella’s commitment to Chelsea beyond the summer, with the full-back himself fuelling speculation regarding a switch to the Camp Nou last month.

Asked about a proposed return to his homeland, Cucurella replied: ‘Spain is always Spain. It is where I grew up and you always think about going back.

‘But I would [prefer to] leave it for a few years down the line. I am very happy here and it is a great life experience.’

Pressed specifically about a potential move to Barca, where he came through the ranks as a youngster, Cucurella added: ‘It is clear if that situation did arise, it is hard to turn down, but I would have to consider it in the end.

‘It is not just me, I also have to think about my family and together we would have to decide what’s best for us.

‘As I have said before, right now I am not thinking about that. If it comes, it will come, and we will see what decision is made.’

According to El Chiringuito de Jugones, the rumours over Cucurella’s future are likely to persist through the summer, with Barcelona said to be keening on signing their former player and holding international discussions about the 27-year-old.

‘There’s a player who knows Barca well, he came through their youth academy, and that’s Cucurella,’ well-known Spanish commentator Jota Jordi claimed on Monday night’s programme.

‘Barcelona been talking about the player in the offices for a couple of days now.’

Coincidentally, Cucurella has travelled to Spain this week to watch the tennis on show at the Madrid Open, along with Chelsea team-mates Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro and their partners.

Fernandez’s future has also been subject to debate and speculation in recent weeks after the midfielder flirted with the idea of a move to Real Madrid during the last international break.

The controversial remarks saw Fernandez dropped for two matches by Chelsea, but the Argentinian roared back with the decisive goal on Sunday as the Blues overcame Leeds to reach this year’s FA Cup final.

In his post-match interview with TNT Sports, Chelsea interim manager McFarlane singled Fernandez out for special praise, crediting the 25-year-old ‘warrior’ with being the ‘deciding factor’ in the contest.

‘He can definitely do what you want from a tactical perspective but I think today the most impressive thing about him was when the tactics went out the window and Leeds were on top, he’s just a fighter and a warrior,’ McFarlane said.

‘We don’t have to have the perfect game-plan in those moments because he’ll run, compete, tackle and drive players on.

‘So that’s what I thought was probably the deciding factor in the game.’

Cucurella’s current contract at Stamford Bridge is due to expire in June 2028

Fernandez, who has also been linked with Manchester City this week, has six years remaining on his deal in west London.

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