Chelsea Targets Bayer Leverkusen’s Grimaldo as Cucurella Replacement

Chelsea has reportedly set its sights on Bayer Leverkusen defender Alejandro Grimaldo as a potential replacement for Marc Cucurella. Although the club is not actively seeking to sell the Spain international, reports suggest that he desires a return to Spain.

If one of La Liga’s top three clubs meets Chelsea’s asking price, a transfer is considered more likely than not.

Currently, Chelsea has Jorrel Hato as a possible direct replacement for Cucurella. However, with new head coach Xabi Alonso potentially favoring a back three formation, the club may look for a traditional wing-back.

According to TEAMtalk, Grimaldo could be targeted for a move to Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks.

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Reasons Behind Alonso’s Interest in Grimaldo

Grimaldo was brought to Bayer Leverkusen by Alonso during his inaugural season, which culminated in an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga title victory. Individually, Grimaldo made significant contributions with 10 goals and 15 assists, bringing his total to 30 goals and 45 assists from 145 appearances across all competitions.

The 12-cap Spanish international is versatile enough to play across the left flank and can also operate as one of two number 10s.

With just one year remaining on Grimaldo’s contract at Bayer Leverkusen, interest from other clubs is expected, including Bayern Munich.

The report further indicates that Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown are also among Chelsea’s shortlist of potential replacements.

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Grimaldo: An Upgrade Over Cucurella?

Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, may be conflicted about pursuing a player who will turn 31 in September. However, there is a clear opportunity to acquire a player who excels offensively compared to Cucurella while also potentially generating profit from the transfer.

While no specific transfer fee for Grimaldo has been disclosed, Leverkusen officials are unlikely to resist if the player expresses his wish to depart. Should Alonso decide on a back three formation, utilizing Hato as a left-sided center-back alongside Grimaldo and Valentin Barco—who is anticipated to sign from Strasbourg—could align well with the preferences of Chelsea’s fanbase.