Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella has fast become one of the top players in his position in the Premier League after the Spanish international embarked on a very impressive 2021-22 campaign under Graham Potter.
As such, Cucurella is now on the radar screen of league champions Manchester City in the wake of Pep Guardiola watching Ukrainian star Oleksandr Zinchenko head south to the capital to reunite with Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.
But despite the fact that the 24-year-old is rather keen on moving to City this summer, both clubs have failed to agree on a fee for the Alella native after City had a £30m bid rejected, which has resulted in Cucurella handing in a transfer request at the Amex Stadium.
Marc Cucurella feels Brighton’s £50M asking price is unrealistic.
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) July 29, 2022
Per reports from BBC Sports’ Simon Stone, Cucurella has been left frustrated with the Seagulls hierarchy who are intent on holding out for £50m despite the former La Masia graduate spending just one season with Brighton after his €18m (£15m) move from Getafe CF.
When pressed on the matter and whether or not he was keen on adding Cucurella to the senior setup in Manchester, Guardiola took his usual stance when questioned about players who currently are not on the payroll at City, stating “He is a Brighton player. I cannot say anything.”
“If it is possible [to sign Cucurella], yes. If not, we stay with what we have. We have enough players who can play there, Joao [Cancelo] can play there. Nathan [Ake].”
At the moment, City can only count on seven players to cover four places in the back line after Zinchenko’s departure and Benjamin Mendy’s unavailability.
With no recognized true left-back in the squad, City fans – and Cucurella – will surely remain hopeful that the Spaniard can complete his move before the window slams shut after next month.
