Marc Cucurella's Chelsea career is at a crossroads after just one season at Stamford Bridge.

Reports claim the West Londoners could cash in on the defender after a disappointing debut campaign. 

Yet conflicting claims have also emerged, stating that new boss Mauricio Pochettino is willing to give the Spaniard another chance. 

Ahead of an important summer for Cucurella, we take a look at what his future might hold. 

Newcastle interest

There is an argument that Chelsea should sell Cucurella to the highest bidder.

Signed for a reported £62million last August, the Blues could accept a heavy loss on the full-back, with Newcastle reported to be interested. 

Chelsea have other options at left-back, such as Ben Chilwell and their academy product Lewis Hall, who made 11 appearances last season. 

Yet with Chilwell regularly suffering injuries and Hall still only 18, Pochettino could find himself short in this position should Cucurella be sold.

Though the performances of the the former Brighton star have been disappointing, Pochettino could be the perfect man to resurrect his career. 

Full-back whisperer

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was scathing in his criticism of Cucurella at times last season, particularly after Chelsea suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City in January.

The Champions League-winning defender said: "I wasn't happy with Cucurella right throughout that second half until he came off.

"If someone doesn't want to defend, it's actually worse. It looked to me like he didn't want to defend in one-vs-one situations. 

"When I see defenders diving in constantly all the time and the fella keeps going past him, it makes me think they don't want to defend." 

As damning as that assessment was, everything points to Pochettino being able to turn Cucurella's career around. 

During his time at Tottenham, he was known for improving the likes of Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose.

The latter's turnaround was particularly impressive. Like Cucurella, the left-back was not a popular figure with Spurs fans, only for Poch to transform him into an England regular. 

Positional changes

Shortly after joining Chelsea last summer, Cucurella spoke about where he felt most comfortable on the pitch. 

He said: "The three positions on the left side are good for me. 

"My best position is left-back in a back four, because I played all my career in the academies in this position. I have more movement and stay more comfortable." 

Though Cucurella prefers to play as a conventional left-back — rather than as a central defender in a back three, or as a wing-back — his appearances in that position were limited. 

Of his 33 appearances last season, only 16 came as a full-back within a back four, in a season that saw two permanent Chelsea managers and two interim coaches constantly switch formation. 

Rarely playing in the same position — or in the same defensive setup — is hardly ideal for a new signing. If Pochettino can stick to a settled formation and personnel, then it will make it easier for his defenders to perform. 

With no European football at Stamford Bridge next season, there will also be plenty of time for the Argentine to improve Cucurella on the training ground.