Manchester City are reportedly set to step up interest in 23-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion full-back Marc Cucurella.
According to Italian football journalist Rudy Galetti, Manchester City are now focusing on a move for Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Marc Cucurella after finalising Raheem Sterling’s move to Chelsea. The Cityzens are in discussion with Brighton over a summer deal for the 23-year-old Spanish full-back, with talks believed to be progressing well.
A Barcelona product, Cucurella arrived in the Premier League just last season from Getafe in an €18 million deal. The Spaniard was an instant hit, making 38 appearances for Brighton across all competitions while scoring once and assisting twice in the process.
His performances last season helped him win the Brighton Player of the Year award in his debut season with the club, which could now turn out to be his only campaign with the Seagulls. The 23-year-old now looks set for a move to Manchester City, with reports claiming he has agreed on personal terms with the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola has deployed Joao Cancelo, who is primarily a right-back, and Oleksandr Zinchenko in the left-back spot but wants a permanent solution for the spot. The Ukraine international could be headed for an exit from Manchester City this summer in search of game time amid interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona. And that would make space for Cucurella.
?? After #Sterling's move to #Chelsea, #ManCity are now focused on finalizing the deal for #Cucurella.
✅ The talks with #Brighton – as reported – are progressing well: now #MCFC want to speed the things up to close soon. ?⚽ #Transfers #Calciomercato https://t.co/Of0aGiNloE
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) July 7, 2022
Chelsea are also said to be keeping tabs on Cucurella, with Marcos Alonso entering the final year of his contract. But the Spanish full-back prefers a move to Manchester City to play under Guardiola.
The Premier League champions have so far completed two signings in the ongoing summer transfer window. Erling Haaland has arrived from Borussia Dortmund to solve their striker woes, while Kalvin Phillips has joined from Leeds United to replace Fernandinho, who left the club as a free agent last month. Julian Alvarez will also feature for Manchester City for the first time in the upcoming season.
Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, is all set to join Chelsea and has reportedly agreed personal terms with the west London club. He will become one of Chelsea’s top earners and will form an integral part of Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the next season. As for Cucurella, it remains to be seen if the 23-year-old joins Manchester City this summer.
