The 2021/22 Premier League leaders City are contemplating making a move for Brighton and Hove Albion’s breakout star Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard joined the Seagulls last summer and is expected to be available for a 30 million pound transfer fee.
Despite being in pole position to win their fourth league title in five years, Pep Guardiola’s side are already eyeing major overhauls for the summer ahead. Stalwarts such as Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, and Riyad Mahrez are linked with exits – with all of their respective contracts expiring next summer – while veteran midfielder Fernandinho will reportedly leave the club this summer.
The Citizens have already secured the signings of forwards Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) and Julian Alvarez (River Plate), but reports claim Guardiola also wants to strengthen the left-back position.
As per Daily Mail, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Marc Cucurella is on City’s radar. The Manchester giants have a dearth of options in that specific position, with Guardiola often opting to deploy right-back Joao Cancelo as a makeshift option on the left. On other occasions, attacking midfielder-turned-defender Oleksandr Zinchenko takes up that role, while centre-back Nathan Ake has played that position at times as well.
Cucurella, who joined Brighton from Getafe last summer, will be available for a fee as low as 30 million, says the report. The Seagulls paid just over half that amount to the LaLiga outfit last August, and the Spaniard enjoyed an incredibly successful first season in England that culminated in him being named the club’s player of the year.
The 23-year-old was used in a variety of positions by manager Graham Potter across the campaign, almost exclusively on the left side. He contributed with one goal and one assist to his team’s total tally.
The left-back came through the ranks of Barcelona but, denied an opportunity at his boyhood club, went on successive loans to other LaLiga clubs. Cucurella joined Getafe on a permanent deal before the 2020/21 season following a successful loan spell; his impressive performances throughout the campaign saw him linked with top European clubs, including Chelsea, and resulted in a first call-up to the Spanish national team.
