Former Chelsea star, Shaun Wright-Phillips has urged the club to re-sign Lewis Hall, asserting that the Newcastle United defender would serve as a “fantastic replacement” for Marc Cucurella.
Cucurella concluded his four-year tenure at the West London club last month, transferring to Real Madrid on a six-year contract.
His exit has left Chelsea with limited options at left-back, as the Spaniard was the first choice for that position.
Thus far in this transfer window, Chelsea has not signed a replacement for the Spaniard, with their only defensive addition being a right-back.
In a conversation with Jackpot City Casino, Wright-Phillips identified Hall as a player capable of succeeding Cucurella, expressing confidence in the England international’s potential for a “superb career” if he can maintain his fitness.
He said, “Lewis Hall would be an excellent replacement for Chelsea. I believe he is a talented player. I was genuinely surprised that he did not participate in the World Cup. However, that may instill a bit of determination in him. Provided he stays healthy, he has a remarkable career ahead of him.”
Hall progressed through the ranks at Chelsea, participating in various age groups within the youth team before making his senior debut in 2022.
Wright-Phillips characterized Cucurella’s departure as a “significant loss” for Chelsea, praising the Spaniard as a “fantastic player.”
He added, “Cucurella is, in my opinion, a substantial loss. He is an exceptional player, not only based on his World Cup performance but also since he acclimated to Chelsea.
“He was part of a club that, in many respects, was in turmoil, lacking direction. Once they appointed a manager with a tactical approach, you witnessed the quality of the Cucurella they acquired.
“For me, he’s just grown since that moment. To lose somebody of that magnitude will, of course, affect that defence. But it’s Chelsea, people move on and clubs like that have to figure out a way to find a suitable enough player that does just as good a job.