Mauricio Pochettino offers update on Man Utd's Marc Cucurella interest
- Chelsea are open to parting ways with Cucurella
- Spaniard has been offered to Man Utd after Luke Shaw's injury
- Shaw is expected to be sidelined for the next two months
By Tom Gott
Mauricio Pochettino has insisted left-back Marc Cucurella remains in his thoughts for Chelsea's Carabao Cup clash with Wimbledon on Wednesday as Manchester United continue to evaluate a move for the Spaniard.
After losing Luke Shaw to injury, United have been offered a whole host of potential replacements, with Cucurella on a list alongside former Chelsea man Marcos Alonso, currently of Barcelona.
Cucurella appears to have fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea since Pochettino's arrival and is yet to appear this season, with Ben Chilwell the starter and Ian Maatsen making two appearances as his deputy. Cucurella could make his first outing against League Two's Wimbledon on Wednesday.
Ahead of the game, Pochettino revealed he currently has no reason not to select Cucurella for the cup game as United's interest in the 25-year-old has not yet turned into anything concrete.
"I cannot talk about supposition or rumours," Pochettino explained. "For tomorrow he is going to be able to play. The club did not communicate to me.
"All of the players in the squad are in our plans. It's about situations, players and club, club and players. All of the players that are in our squad are in our plans even if they didn't play at the moment."
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Alongside Cucurella and Alonso, United have also discussed a possible move for Sergio Reguilon, who has failed to make the bench for Tottenham Hotspur so far under new manager Ange Postecoglou.
United are yet to decide on their preferred target but have already settled on the idea of a loan move, rather than a permanent offer.
Chelsea are prepared to listen to offers for Cucurella, who has struggled since his £62m move from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, as Pochettino seeks to continue shrinking his squad.
The boss is keen to keep his focus solely on preparing for matches and insisted all decisions taken on exits, including for the likes of Cucurella, Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi, will be made by the club.
"I am not involved in these situations," Pochettino stressed. "I am focused on the team. That is between the club and the player. Nobody communicated that something is finished. When something is done the club will communicate to you."
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