Brighton & Hove Albion starlet Marc Cucurella reportedly wants to join Manchester City amid interest from Chelsea.
According to a report from The Athletic, Marc Cucurella could be on the verge of sealing a move away from Amex Stadium this summer amid interest from a host of top clubs across the Premier League. Manchester City and Chelsea have emerged as the two front-runners in the race to sign the young full-back, who is keen on taking the next step in his career.
The report suggests Cucurella is tilting towards a move to Manchester City as he wants to play under Pep Guardiola in order to “elevate his game to the next level”. It is apparent the player has high regard for the Manchester City manager and believes a move to the Etihad could represent a logical move from his end.
It serves as a massive blow for Chelsea, who are targeting a left-back this summer in light of Marcos Alonso’s likely exit from Stamford Bridge. The former Fiorentina starlet has emerged as a top target for Barcelona, with the player reportedly agreeing to a three-year contract with the Catalans ahead of a summer move to Camp Nou.
Alonso’s potential exit should leave Ben Chilwell as the only reliable option at left-back. Chelsea, therefore, were targeting Cucurella as the ideal man to provide competition for the Englishman, who is coming on the back of a long spell on the sidelines owing to knee surgery.
As far as Manchester City are concerned, their pursuit of Cucurella is hardly surprising as Guardiola lacks depth in the left-back unit. With Benjamin Mendy suspended, and Oleksandr Zinchenko facing an uncertain future at the Etihad, Joao Cancelo has become the only reliable option in the position.
It has accentuated the need for a new left-back. And that is where Cucurella comes into the fray for Manchester City. The Spaniard has enjoyed an excellent start to his life at Brighton, making a solid impression with his technical prowess and defensive nous. The balanced nature of his play has made him one of the most sought-after fullbacks in Europe.
Cucurella could soon be rewarded for his performances with a move to the Etihad. However, Manchester City still have a long way to go in their pursuit of the former Barcelona man, as Brighton are currently holding out for a fortune. As for Chelsea, it will be interesting to see who the Blues turn to for reinforcing the left-back arsenal.
