Marc Cucurella transfer offers Manchester United two added benefits

Manchester United have versatile Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella on their transfer radar before the impending deadline at 11pm on Friday night.

The 25-year-old former Barcelona and Brighton man has been earmarked as the preferred option to replenish the United squad after Luke Shaw picked up a muscular injury. Tyrell Malacia - the other senior left-back on the books - has not featured since last season and his return is still weeks away.

Shaw is expected to be sidelined for at least two months. United have opened up discussions with Chelsea over bringing Cucurella to Old Trafford on a temporary basis.

Should that switch go through, Erik ten Hag would have a seasoned, stop-gap replacement for Shaw and Malacia, but there could be other notable benefits to the transfer.

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The straightforward way for Ten Hag would be to deploy the one-cap Spaniard at left-back. Diogo Dalot played in that position in the 3-2 comeback victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon but he is naturally a right back and is right-footed.

Cucurella has the added benefit to operate at centre-back. That might be especially useful if United are without Lisandro Martinez for any given reason. Shaw deputised for the World Cup winner last season to provide balance and maintain similar passing lanes. However, due to restrictions at left-back - prompting this move in the first instance - that would only be feasible as and when Malacia or Shaw return to the fold.

United have confirmed Raphael Varane will miss the Arsenal match on Sunday afternoon with an unspecified problem and no time-frame has