Manchester City are yet to reach an agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion for the transfer of Marc Cucurella – reports The Athletic. The Spaniard is a target for the Citizens for the left-back slot, which, after the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal and the continued absence of Benjamin Mendy due to an ongoing police investigation, is currently empty.
According to the report, Brighton turned down Manchester City’s approach for Cucurella, their opening bid of 30 million pounds deemed too low by the Seagulls. BHA are prepared to turn down approaches for their 2021/22 Player of the Season, whom they hope to tie down to a new deal in the near future. However, while they have assigned a 50 million price tag to the left-back, they believe City are unwilling to match it.
Cucurella moved to the Premier League last summer from Getafe. The 24-year-old La Masia graduate played 35 of the Seagulls’ 38 Premier League games – and 38 overall – and scored one goal.
Meanwhile, City themselves have rejected an approach from Southampton for academy striker Liam Delap. Son of former Stoke City defender Rory Delap, he joined the City academy in 2019 from Derby County and has made six appearances for the senior side so far in his burgeoning career.
The Saints, who have already signed Romeo Lavia from City this summer, have had a 16 million pound bid knocked back by the Citizens. Southampton have been shopping at the academies of the top six clubs for the past two summer windows, but it remains to be seen if they return with an improved offer for the 19-year-old forward.
Furthermore, as per the reports, Manchester City have no interest in shipping Delap out permanently this summer. The youngster has plenty of loan interest in him from the Championship sides, and a temporary move could develop in the coming days.
