Mueez Ajao
– Manchester City target Marc Cucurella has handed in a transfer request at Brighton.
– The Seagulls have already rejected one bid from City for the defender and are understood to be holding out for a £50m fee for the former Barcelona player.
– The 24-year-old left-back joined Brighton from Getafe last summer.
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– He has been identified by City manager Pep Guardiola as a replacement for Oleksandr Zinchenko, who left City to join Arsenal this summer.
Marc Cucurella has just handed in a transfer request at Brighton. No agreement between Manchester City and Brighton on the price, negotiations are difficult but still ongoing. 🚨🔵 #MCFC
Final decision on clubs side expected soon as there's still a big gap in valuations. pic.twitter.com/0pxYdC6zJc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 29, 2022
– Cucurella is understood to feel Brighton’s asking price is unrealistic.
– A Barcelona academy graduate, he has one senior cap for Spain and played for the under-23 side that won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
– Asked about the defender at a news conference for the Community Shield with Liverpool on Saturday at the King Power Stadium, Guardiola said: “He is a Brighton player. I cannot say anything.”
– Pressed further on his desire to sign a left-sided defender, the City boss added: “If it is possible, yes.
– “If not, we stay with what we have. We have enough players who can play there, Joao [Cancelo] can play there. Nathan [Ake].”
– Guardiola also confirmed that centre-back Aymeric Laporte is expected to be sidelined until September after knee surgery.
– “Laporte is injured,” said Guardiola. “He had knee surgery after last season and playing the last two or three games with an important injury. He made an incredible effort.
– “So far he is doing really well, but you have to be careful with a knee. I think August will be out, September I think maybe he will start to be with us.”
