The agent of Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has hit back at reports claiming the full back has been offered to Atletico Madrid just a year on from joining the club.
Cucurella moved from Brighton in a deal worth 62million last August but endured a miserable first campaign at Stamford Bridge, with his future seemingly uncertain.
Indeed, various outlets have suggested the 24-year-old may be shipped out this summer with Mauricio Pochettino's widespread culling already well underway.
LaLiga giants Atletico were the latest touted to make a swoop for him in recent days, only for representative Alvaro Dominguez to openly play down the talk as 'fake news'.
Marca reported Cucurella's stuttering form prompted Chelsea to look to cut their losses and offer him to Atletico in a deal that would have seen them make a loss.
Dominguez, though, tagged Marca on Instagram and branded their story 'fake news' on a post on Instagram. He also wrote 'try again' next to a crying laughing emoji.
Cucurella registered just two assists and no goals in his 24 Premier League appearances last year and played under no less than four different managers.
Neither Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor nor Frank Lampard were able to salvage Chelsea's season on their way to a lowly 12th-placed finish.
Pochettino, the club's first permanent boss since Potter, has been tasked with trimming down a bloated first-team squad in the hope of inspiring a revival.
Cucurella may well be on the chopping block after a number of team-mates exited.
Kai Havertz completed his 65m move to Arsenal earlier this week while both Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy have joined clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Elsewhere, Mason Mount is set to wrap up his switch to Manchester United with a medical scheduled for Monday, and Christian Pulisic and Romelu Lukaku may leave.
Cucurella faces fierce competition at left back with Ben Chilwell and Lewis Hall options, while Levi Colwill's return may restrict his game time in a back three.
However, Newcastle are weighing up a surprise move for Cucurella as they look to strengthen Eddie Howe's squad this window, according to The Mirror.
The club are understood to be prioritising signing a new midfielder but are also open to spending to reinforcing their backline, with Cucurella on their list of targets.
Dan Ashworth, the sporting director at St James' Park, was initially responsible for luring the defender from Getafe to Brighton during his sp ell with the Seagulls
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