According to Football Insider, in-form Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella was on the verge of joining Manchester United during the summer transfer window.

According to a reliable source, the two clubs were “very close” to reaching an agreement that would have seen the 25-year-old join United on a season-long loan.

However, the agreement and talks fell through at the eleventh hour, forcing Manchester United to focus on a temporary deal for Tottenham defender Sergio Reguilon.

Chelsea were willing to let Cucurella go because he appeared to have fallen out of favor with new boss Mauricio Pochettino.

However, the full-back is now a key player in Pochettino’s plans after a successful return to Stamford Bridge.

He is thought to have won over the Argentine with his early-season performances and has now earned a key part in Chelsea’s defense.

Cucurella has made nine appearances this season across all competitions, stepping in on both sides of the defense due to injuries to first-choice combination Ben Chilwell and Reece James.

He only joined Chelsea from Brighton last summer (2022) for a rumored amount of more than £60 million, but he disappointed in his first season with the Londoners.

In the 2022-23 season, the defender made 33 appearances under three different permanent managers as the Blues ended 12th in the table.

He is under contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2028 and is said to earn £175,000 a week.

Reguilon has made seven appearances this season in all competitions due to injuries to Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw.