Comparing Cucurella’s 21-22 stats with Chilwell & Alonso’s at Chelsea | OneFootball

Chelsea appear to be on the verge of signing Marc Cucurella from Brighton – but is the left-back an upgrade on their current options?

England international Ben Chilwell started last season as the Blues’ first-choice left-sided defender, operating in more of a wing-back role, before a ruptured cruciate ligament injury in November brought an early end to his season.

Experienced club stalwart Marcos Alonso, who has made over 200 appearances for Chelsea, was the club’s other option in that role. However, the 31-year-old reportedly wants to leave Stamford Bridge amid interest from Barcelona.

Cucurella has been subject to interest from Manchester City all summer. The Premier League champions are reportedly keen on the Barcelona academy graduate as they look to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko, but they have baulked at the £50million price tag demanded by Brighton.

The 24-year-old only arrived from La Liga outfit Getafe last summer but instantly made a big impression for Graham Potter’s Seagulls. He ended the campaign named Brighton’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season.

The latest reports suggest that Chelsea are set to gazump City to the full-back’s signature.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has since suggested that a deal could be completed in the coming days.

“Full agreement now reached between Chelsea and Cucurella on personal terms. Potential contract has been proposal approved, Marc’s prepared to accept once clubs agree on fee,” Romano tweeted this morning.

“Chelsea and Brighton in direct talks again today in order to complete the deal.”

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is certainly keen to get extra bodies through the door. Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling have already been signed, but there is extra work to be done to replace departing trio Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Romelu Lukaku.

“I look at the last season and parts of the game where we struggled, parts of the season where we struggled, and then we got sanctioned and players left us and some players are trying to leave us, and this is where it is,” Tuchel told reporters after a 4-0 friendly defeat to Arsenal last month.

“So we had an urgent appeal for quality players, a huge amount of quality players. We got two quality players but we are not competitive like this. Unfortunately you could see it today.”

Would Cucurella fit the bill in terms of strengthening Tuchel’s squad? Here’s how his Premier League stats from last season compare to the corresponding output of Alonso and Chilwell.

Goals Marcos Alonso – 4 Ben Chilwell – 3 Marc Cucurella – 1

Assists Marcos Alonso – 4 Ben Chilwell – 1 Marc Cucurella – 1

Minutes per goal or assist Ben Chilwell – 135.2 Marcos Alonso – 271.6 Marc Cucurella – 1546

Shots per 90 minutes Ben Chilwell – 2.2 Marcos Alonso – 1.8 Marc Cucurella – 0.5

Successful dribbles per 90 minutes (success rate) Marc Cucurella – 0.8 (50%) Marcos Alonso – 0.6 (42%) Ben Chilwell – 0.5 (50%)

Fouls won per 90 minutes Ben Chilwell – 2.5 Marcos Alonso – 1.2 Marc Cucurella – 0.9

Passes per 90 minutes (success rate) Marc Cucurella – 55.3 (82%) Marcos Alonso – 47 (81%) Ben Chilwell – 44.9 (83%)

Chances created per 90 minutes Marcos Alonso – 1.8 Ben Chilwell – 1.7 Marc Cucurella – 1.2

Tackles per 90 minutes (success rate) Marc Cucurella – 2.7 (77%) Marcos Alonso – 1.7 (68%) Ben Chilwell -1.3 (72%)

Interceptions per 90 minutes Marcos Alonso – 1.8 Marc Cucurella – 0.9 Ben Chilwell – 0.7

Clearances per 90 minutes Ben Chilwell – 2.3 Marcos Alonso – 2.1 Marc Cucurella – 1.9