Highly-rated Brighton defender Marc Cucurella has handed in a transfer request on the south coast as he looks to force a positive conclusion in negotiations between the Seagulls and Manchester City for his move to Manchester this summer.
The former La Masia graduate only joined the south coast outfit in the summer of 2021, after a stunning season with Getafe, but has taken his game to new heights this season under Graham Potter.
And this led to interest from Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his left side of defence following the departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal earlier in the transfer window.
However, the two clubs remain significantly apart in their valuations of the Spaniard, with Brighton keen to hold out for £50m and the Cityzens unwilling to match that, offering closer to £30m for the defender so far.
‘City are believed to be willing to pay up to £40million for the 24-year-old left-back’, the Athletic report, and are hoping that Brighton’s stance will be softened by the transfer request from that player.
Marc Cucurella has just handed in a transfer request at Brighton. No agreement between Manchester City and Brighton on the price, negotiations are difficult but still ongoing. 🚨🔵 #MCFC
Final decision on clubs side expected soon as there’s still a big gap in valuations. pic.twitter.com/0pxYdC6zJc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 29, 2022
Cucurella himself is keen to make the move, with the former La Masia graduate thought to be desperate to work under Pep Guardiola.
Alternatives?
Manchester City are not usually a side that need to have a shortlist, and have previously chosen not to sign a player rather than sign a second choice. Rather than pursue an alternative to Harry Kane last summer, they opted to go through the 21/22 season without a striker, before making a move for Erling Haaland this summer.
However, with no natural left back at the club presently, they may be forced to dip into the market on this occasion even if they cannot land Cucurella. Stuttgart’s Borna Sosa and Benfica defender Alex Grimaldo have been mooted as potential alternatives, though there has been no concrete movement on either player.
