Chelsea: 'Strong chance' Potter starts £175k-a-week star vs RB Salzburg | OneFootball

Chelsea boss Graham Potter is likely to recall Marc Cucurella to the starting line-up when the Blues host Red Bull Salzburg in their second Champions League group stage clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Ben Chilwell featured at left wing-back when the west Londoners took on Dinamo Zagreb last week, but he could not stop them falling to a 1-0 defeat in Croatia.

What’s the latest news involving Cucurella?

Cucurella made the move to Chelsea after a £62million deal was agreed with Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

The Spaniard had initially agitated for a switch to Manchester City and handed in a transfer request at the Amex Stadium.

However, Chelsea eventually won the race for Cucurella’s services and he penned a six-year contract worth £175,000-per-week.

He has now been joined at Stamford Bridge by a familiar face as Graham Potter was appointed as his new club’s head coach last week.

Potter has followed in Cucurella’s footsteps and made the move from Brighton after Thomas Tuchel was sacked less than 24 hours on from the loss to Dinamo Zagreb.

What has Dean Jones said about Cucurella?

Jones believes there is a distinct possibility that Cucurella will regain his place in the starting line-up when Potter takes charge of Chelsea for the first time against Salzburg.

The journalist feels the new Blues chief’s relationship with the 24-year-old, thanks to their time together at Brighton, will result on Potter leaning on him.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I think there’s a strong, strong chance that Cucurella will start that first match.

“He is a player that he knows inside out and he’ll know exactly how to use him. Cucurella will probably be optimistic that he’ll figure early on.”

Why would Potter name Cucurella in his starting line-up?

With the weekend derby against Fulham being postponed as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II following her death last week, the clash with Salzburg will be Potter’s first match in charge of Chelsea.

He brought Cucurella to the Premier League when he urged Brighton to activate the £15.4million release clause written into his Getafe contract last year and the deal proved to be a masterstroke.

The left-back went onto make the left-back slot his own, making 37 appearances under Potter’s guidance, and contributed a goal along with two assists.

Cucurella, a one-cap Spain international, is someone Potter can trust and is likely to call upon regularly following his unveiling at Stamford Bridge.