Man Utd emergency activates shock Tottenham pursuit after Chelsea enquiry as three-man shortlist is locked in

Manchester United are looking at Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, Sergio Reguilon from Tottenham Hotspur and Marcos Alonso from Barcelona as their emergency targets for the left-back position, according to reports.

Both of Man Utd’s main left-backs, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, are currently out injured. Therefore, they had to start the right-footed Diogo Dalot at left-back for their win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The fact that the transfer window is open for a few more days, though – coupled with the fact that youngster Alvaro Fernandez is being linked with an exit – might give them the chance to bring in some cover for their absentees.

Their interest in Chelsea’s Cucurella recently emerged after Mauricio Pochettino preferred to use Ben Chilwell in the Blues’ opening fixtures, with Ian Maatsen as backup. But according to the Manchester Evening News, Cucurella is just one of three options they are considering at left-back – and funnily enough, they all share the same nationality.

The others are Reguilon – who spent last season on loan at Atletico Madrid from Tottenham – and Alonso, who is setting out on his second season with Barcelona since his departure from Chelsea.

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Cucurella is the main player they have enquired for so far. Their plan would be to take him away from Chelsea on loan after he struggled to make an impact during his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

Before that, the Spaniard stood out for Brighton, so he could get his career back on track with a change of scenery. However, whether Chelsea would want to do business with Man Utd again after already losing Mason Mount to them on a permanent deal this summer remains to be seen.

Alonso and Reguilon on radar for Man Utd too

Therefore, Man Utd have expanded their search for a new left-back and are now playing catch-up with Fulham in the race for Reguilon, who is someone they looked at in 2020 before Spurs beat them to him and they signed Alex Telles (who left for Al-Nassr this year) instead.

The Red Devils have also asked about Alonso after his previous spells in the Premier League. This season, he should be competing with Alejandro Balde at Barcelona after the departure of Jordi Alba to Inter Miami.

How likely Man Utd are to tempt him back to English football just over a year after he left these shores is unclear.

Time is running out for Man Utd to settle on a preferred candidate to cover their left-back shortage and see if they can convince their current club to let them have him.