Marc Cucurella has handed in a transfer request to force a move to Manchester City. The reigning Premier League champions saw a £30m bid rejected by Brighton.
Manchester City seem to have mastered the art of buying cheap and selling high. Besides Jack Grealish, Man City have never cracked the 100 million mark in signing a player. The Citizens have been economical in their financial dealings, which begs the question of how they were able to achieve this.
When most clubs expected Erling Haaland would leave Dortmund for a fee not less than £70 million, City got him for a little over £50m. There is a method to their dealings, and it needs studying.
Following the embarrassing defeat at the hands of Champions League specialists Real Madrid last season, Pep Guardiola is strengthening his squad as the quest for the holy grail of European club football continues. The Spanish gaffer fortified his attack with the arrival of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez. Guardiola is keen to bolster his defence, especially with the departure of Zinchenko to Arsenal.
Guardiola has eyes on Brighton & Hove Albion full-back Marc Cucurella but met a brick wall as they could not agree with the Seagulls.
Cucurella hands in transfer request
The interest in Marc Cucurella by Manchester City is yet to yield dividends as they are still some way off the Seagulls evaluation of the full-back.
Manchester City bid £30 million for Cucurella, but Brighton were not impressed and rejected it. The rejection has forced Cucurella to make a transfer request as the Spaniard is eager to play Champions League football.
Amid the interest from Manchester City, Cucurella has told Brighton that he wants to leave the club.
Pep Guardiola, who led Manchester City to win the Premier League last season, are hunting for a left-back and sees Cucurella as an ideal replacement for Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is off to Arsenal. The Citizens want to bring Cucurella to the Etihad but saw a bid of £30m rejected as Brighton holds firm to their £50m valuation of the 24-year-old.
Keeping the deal alive
Perhaps Man City are not ready to improve on their offer, as they are playing it cool. The Citizens don’t want to force the matter. Sky Sports News revealed on Friday that the defender has handed in a transfer request to force a move from the club.
Brighton are unperturbed by the request. As sellers, they are in a strong position as Cucurella still has four years on his current deal. It would be arduous to force their hands, and Cucurella would need Man City to up their bid.
In the interim, Man City are in no rush to sign the Spaniard. When questioned on the matter, Guardiola refused to comment. The focus is on the Community Shield clash against Liverpool on Saturday evening.
Guardiola said he could not comment beyond the fact that Cucurella remains a Brighton player. He further claimed the Citizens would sign the full-back if the opportunity arose, but if it does not happen, the club will do with what they have.
Cucurella joined the Seagulls from Getafe for £15m last summer. He had a solid performance for the club, making 35 appearances.
