EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle told terms of Marc Cucurella deal as Chelsea respond to loan bid

Earlier today, The Telegraph revealed that Newcastle United have identified Marc Cucurella an Kieran Tierney as loan options in our ongoing search for a new left-back.

Since then, we’ve received an update on Cucurella after reaching out to a trusted source close to the club’s recruitment team. Unfortunately, Chelsea’s stance has frustrated Newcastle; not for the first time since new owners arrived.

They’ve made it clear they will only accept a loan bid for the Spaniard if it includes an obligation to buy at the end of the 2023/24 season. However, this is something Newcastle will not agree to as things stand, giving us no option to assess the player’s performances before committing to a mandatory deal next summer.

As a result, a permanent move for the 25-year-old looks like our only option, but Newcastle are not likely to spend big on a left-back this summer, with the vast majority of our remaining funds set to be spent on a right-sided centre-back. Having left Brighton for Chelsea in a £60m move just 12 months ago, Cucurella would also cost more than the club are willing – or able – to pay, leaving us with little to no hope of striking a deal with the Blues.

With FFP a constant consideration, two permanent signings look highly unlikely unless unwanted high-earners – Ryan Fraser, Jeff Hendrick and Isaac Hayden – are moved on in the final two weeks of the window. As we revealed earlier this month, a centre-back is likely to be our last permanent move of the summer, with loan options explored at left-back.

Once again, Chelsea aren’t willing to do us any favours. They consider the club a major rival and already blocked our bid to sign fellow left-back Lewis Hall last month. Eddie Howe is a big admirer of the 18-year-old, but with a permanent exit off the cards and our loan approach rejected, he’s expected to spend the season at Crystal Palace instead.

With our move for Hall falling flat and our attempts to sign Cucurella proving difficult, a move for Tierney looks more likely. Arsenal prefer to sell, but there’s more chance of the Gunners accepting a loan-to-buy deal that allows us to sign now and pay later.

That said, Howe is wary of the player’s injury history, meaning any future fee for the Scottish international would have to be considerably less than the £35m we were quoted in May.