Marc Cucurella makes Brighton plea amid Man City interest

Brighton and Spain full-back Marc Cucurella has made his opinion known regarding a potential move to Manchester City.

Manchester City’s transfer window has been faultless to this point. Adding a faultless transfer window to the immaculate outfit Pep Guardiola’s side were, by and large, viewed as last season is an alarming prospect.

Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez provide clinical instincts – a department that – if you were going to be hypercritical – the Sky Blues were lacking.

Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United acts as a direct replacement for the departing Fernandinho and offers competition/cover for Rodri – who himself is an irreproachable operator.

Experienced pro, Stefan Ortega, also arrived in the North-West from Bundesliga outfit Arminia Bielefeld to strengthen the club’s goalkeeper room.

So, Guardiola has achieved the impossible and improved on perfection while also balancing the books with several big name exits in Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Mere mortals would call it a day there, but the enigmatic manager has at least one more name on his list; Marc Cucurella.

A graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, it is obvious why Cucurella is adjudged an ideal addition, notwithstanding the impact he had during his first season with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Why Pep Guardiola wants Marc Cucurella?

Upon arriving on the South Coast from La Liga side Getafe, Cucurella was a relatively unknown entity on British shores, with only scouting aficionados aware of the extent of his possible impact.

Such is the impressive nature of Brighton’s scouting network, those ignorant – including myself – to their business should know better.

The conductor, Seagulls’ boss Graham Potter, wasted no time in inaugurating his newest signing and Cucurella soon became a fan favourite.

He went on to make 35 appearances in the Premier League, before being named his team’s Player of the Season in a campaign where Brighton achieved the highest top-flight finish in their history.

While not registering the kind of goal and assist output likened to counter-parts such as João Cancelo, Ben Chilwell and Andy Robertson – who have moved the goalposts somewhat – the tangibles Cucurella offers are more traditional in a sense.

Full-backs in the modern era are expected to put their hand to a plethora of roles which would have been alien to their alternatives as little as five to ten years ago.

Picking up half-spaces, and playing as a second centre-midfielder or winger are a couple of the requirements dealt to Cucurella’s potential future teammate Cancelo.

Cucurella has proven he is adept at the above but also possesses the reliability which does appear to have fallen by the wayside for some occupants of his position.

Former teammate and now Newcastle United centre-back Dan Burn discussed the 24-year-old’s impact at the Amex Stadium.

"“He’s been very good. Technically we were expecting him to be good, coming from La Liga. The Arsenal game (a 0-0 home draw in October) was one of the first I played with him and, even in the air, physically he was really strong.“He’s tough to beat one on one and when he gets the ball he’s so calm, moves it so quickly. He’s been an amazing signing. He’s a really good lad as well. When he came, he struggled with his English a little bit, but it’s really good now. He’s a big part of the team.”Via: The Athletic"

The latest on Marc Cucurella to Manchester City

Manchester City have acted on their interest in Cucurella, offering a fee of £30m which was quickly declined, as per Caught Offside.

Brighton’s inclination to play hardball is understandable. The recently capped Spain international only signed in the summer of 2021 and is contracted until 2026.

Until this point, the player’s standpoint has been unclear, although the overall consensus was that he’d be open to the switch.

News surfacing on Friday suggests the degree of his desire for the transfer has gone up a level. Fabrizio Romano reported that Cucurella has submitted a transfer request in an attempt to force a move.

It is unlikely that Brighton’s stance will change following the change in heart as they very much still hold all the cards in the deal, however, it may force Man City to step up their pursuit and reach further into their coffers.