Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly rejected Manchester City’s £30 million bid for Spanish full-back Marc Cucurella.
A recent report from The Athletic has offered an update on Marc Cucurella’s transfer saga. The Brighton & Hove Albion full-back has been subjected to a move to the Etihad, as Pep Guardiola looks to shore up his options in the left-back unit. Manchester City have even submitted their initial offer worth around £30 million.
But it has been swiftly rejected by Brighton. The Seagulls are holding out for a higher fee for their prized full-back, who is coming on the back of an excellent season in the Premier League.
As a matter of fact, the Spaniard was one of the top performers for Brighton this past season. Featuring in 35 league matches, he was a crucial component in Graham Potter’s tactical setup, offering the technical prowess and attacking creativity out wide while showcasing excellent athleticism.
Such qualities have put Manchester City on alert, with the English champions considering Cucurella one of their final major targets in the market this summer. The club have already roped in the likes of Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips so far, and it appears there is room for more.
Cucurella could be a smart investment, especially in the aftermath of Oleksandr Zinchenko’s departure. The Ukrainian international is set to complete his move to Arsenal, who have had to splash out a figure of over £30 million for his signature.
Zinchenko’s exit has left Manchester City without any reliable alternative for primary left-back Joan Cancelo. It has accentuated the need for a new left-back, with the Brighton defender emerging as the ideal candidate.
However, it appears Brighton are not too keen on sanctioning the sale of the former Barcelona and Getafe youngster as they rate him quite highly. The Seagulls are also aware of the fact that Manchester City have just handed them the Zinchenko money in an attempt to sign the Spanish full-back, and as such, they believe they can generate greater revenue from the sale.
Manchester City themselves are expected to come up with an improved offer in the coming days. But they are not afraid to abandon their pursuit altogether if Brighton refuse to lower their initial asking price of £50 million this summer.