Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella is ready to leave the club during the January transfer window to secure regular playing time, according to reports.
Since his £62m transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, Cucurella has struggled to find his top form.
Last season, the 25-year-old made appearances in 33 competitive games, but his performances received criticism from certain quarters.
However, with the arrival of manager Mauricio Pochettino, Cucurella has slipped down the pecking order behind players like Ben Chilwell, Levi Colwill, and Ian Maatsen.
As a result, Cucurella has yet to feature in any Premier League matches this season, with his only appearance coming in the 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup a month ago.
During the final days of the summer transfer window, Manchester United expressed interest in loaning the defender.
However, his cup-tied status due to his EFL Cup appearance led to Man United abandoning the pursuit and focusing on securing the loan signing of Sergio Reguilon from Tottenham Hotspur.
Although a summer move didn’t materialize, Cucurella’s future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain.
The Sun reports that he is ready to leave the club in January unless he starts receiving regular playing time.
Cucurella is expected to start in Wednesday’s home game against his former team, Brighton, in the third round of the EFL Cup.
However, he desires more playing opportunities in the Premier League and is willing to explore other options if he doesn’t receive sufficient first-team action.
Despite holding talks with Pochettino regarding his future, Cucurella remains uncertain about the amount of game time he will get this season.
While he enjoys living in London, the defender would consider returning to Spain if it guarantees him regular playing time.