Manchester City have Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo who can operate at left-back in Benjamin Mendy’s absence, but Mike McGrath of the Telegraph says Pep Guardiola is ‘looking at’ another defender who could be first-choice next season – Marc Cucurella.
The 23-year-old joined Brighton & Hove Albion on a five-year deal from Getafe last summer, setting the Premier League side back £16.2m. He’s gone on to make 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal with two assists.
CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak recently revealed “more players (are) coming”, so Cucurella could be one of many new recruits.
Mendy is unlikely to play for City again after being suspended by the club pending a trial for alleged sexual assault and rape, but Guardiola doesn’t appear to trust Zinchenko in the role over an entire season. The 25-year-old only made 15 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, spending the first half of the campaign on the bench.
Cucurella would surely be signed to start on a regular basis next season. In 35 league games, he created 42 chances, won 40 aerial duels, made 28 successful dribbles, blocked 51 shots/crosses/passes, made 65 clearances, had 30 interceptions and made 93 tackles, so his quality is there for all to see.
Brighton are requesting nearly three times what they paid for Cucurella (£45m), so he won’t come cheap for City.
In other news, Issa Kabore could be long-term replacement for Kyle Walker
he is good but i don’t think he is the one we need
when u see him playing really u judge him a better player in his position.