Chelsea are interested in signing Barcelona youth academy product Marc Cucurella, according to Goal.
Currently on loan at Getafe, Cucurella is primarily a left-back which has been one of Chelsea manager Frank Lampard’s biggest problem areas this season.
The Blues have struggled defensively with only Tottenham and Burnley having conceded more goals in the top half of the Premier League.
One of the causes for that has been the lack of stability in the left-back role with inconsistent performances from both current Chelsea options Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri.
Lampard has even resorted to playing Cesar Azpilicueta on the left with youngster Reece James impressing in the right-back position.
However, the Blues are looking for a long term solution in Cucurella can also play on the left side higher up the pitch.
Reported Chelsea target Cucurella has had a hugely impressive season, playing 26 times for a Getafe side that is fifth in La Liga but joint on points and goal difference with Real Soceidad in fourth.
The 21 year old has scored one goal and assisted five this season in the Spanish top flight.
His performances have not gone unnoticed with Napoli, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkeusen all interested in signing him in the summer.
However, Cucurella is not Chelsea’s primary target in the left back role with Leicester’s Ben Chillwell and Porto’s Alex Telles ranking higher on the priority list, the report continues.
Getafe’s deal for the youngster has an option to buy the youngster for €6 million from Barcelona and also includes a sell-on clause which entitles the Catalan club to 40 percent of the transfer fee Getafe receive.
Cucurella criticised Barcelona last month for losing faith in their academy players and giving them few opportunities to succeed.
Speaking to Sport, he said “I think that at Barcelona, which is a big club, the important thing is to win in the end.
“Maybe they don’t have the patience that they had. As a cantera player, which I am, they don’t give you the chances you deserve.
“I don’t like it because I expected they would be more confident in the youth academy (cantera). In football the important thing is to win. Winning is more important than having patience.”
