Marc Cucurella: Manchester City's £30m Bid For Brighton Left-Back Rejected

Friday, 29 July 2022 06:00

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Brighton have rejected a £30m bid for Marc Cucurella from Manchester City.

The bid falls well short of Brighton's valuation of the player, which is understood to be £50m.

Sky Sports News this week confirmed Brighton have rejected the Premier League champions' first offer for the player.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful first season in the Premier League after joining from Getafe in a deal worth around £15m last summer.

Manchester City are looking to defend their Premier League title by strengthening in other areas after the arrival of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

Brighton do not want to let Cucurella leave. It would take a huge offer for them to sell as he has four years remaining on his contract at the Amex.

Jamie Carragher says Man City have lacked an "outstanding" left-back during Pep Guardiola's time in charge but that Cucurella would provide healthy competition should he move to the Etihad.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the former Liverpool defender said:

"I think Man City have always - really since Pep's been there - lacked a real outstanding left-back. It was always the position where they've had sort of different players at different times.

"You're never quite sure who plays there every week, where you know it's Kyle Walker playing right-back. [Joao] Cancelo's gone in there and been as good as anyone really but I'm sure Pep would like a left-footer there.

Credit: Sky Sports.

"Zinchenko's moved onto Arsenal so when you ask 'is he worth it,' Man City normally spend £40-50m on full-backs. They've done that notoriously since Pep came and like any transfer and what you pay - if you play well you think he's worth it.

"He looks a classy operator when you see him in a Brighton shirt. He plays a similar type of football to Manchester City in possession, so I'm sure he'll be a good signing."

Cucurella, who was named Brighton's Player of the Season for 2021/22, joined the Seagulls for a fee of around £15m last summer.