Chelsea: Xabi Alonso will be backed into a corner by latest Marc Cucurella news
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is going to be left in a difficult situation if Barcelona make a move for Marc Cucurella.
According to Marca in Spain, Barcelona will be making a move to sign Cucurella this summer if they sell left-back Alejandro Balde.
Cucurella has nailed down the left-back position at Chelsea, starting 31 of their 38 Premier League games this season.
Whilst Cucurella is under contract at Chelsea until 2029, the club's financial state means that Alonso will have to sell players this summer.
Chelsea posted a record pre-tax loss of £262.4million in their latest accounts, and Cucurella is highly valued at up to £60m.
Xabi Alonso under tight restrictions this summer
Alonso could have no choice but to sell Cucurella, even if the Spaniard has no intentions of letting the 27-year-old leave.
Chelsea's failure to secure any form of European football was a massive blow to the club's finances, putting further pressure on player sales this summer, as former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider.
The only way Alonso's transfer budget will be boosted is by ruthlessly selling players, and there is a need for Chelsea to sign a new goalkeeper, central defender, and forward in this window.
The sale of Cucurella could hand a further opportunity to Jorrel Hato to cement a place in the starting line-up, who Chelsea signed for £37m last summer, meaning Alonso may already have his next left back at the club.
Who else could leave Chelsea this summer?
Striker Liam Delap is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer following a woeful first season at the club.
Delap only scored two goals in all competitions, and Chelsea already want to recoup the £30m they spent to sign the 23-year-old from Ipswich.
Question marks remain over midfielder Enzo Fernandez, and whether the 25-year-old will be allowed to leave after Chelsea missed out on European qualification.
Alonso officially takes charge of Chelsea on July 1st, and the Spaniard will have plenty of big transfer decisions to make early on in his tenure.