Manchester City recently sold Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal, leaving them without a natural left-back just two weeks before the start of the Premier League season. The 25-year-old had to cut his pre-season tour short to finalise the move to Arsenal, so City may have been undecided whether to let him go.
The defending champions are planning to bring in Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion but had an opening bid rejected, so City will have to up their offer by a significant amount to land his signature. The Seagulls want £50m, but Cucurella wanting a move could force them to cash in for less.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
The 24-year-old has made 38 appearances for Brighton, scoring one goal with two assists, and possesses all the qualities Pep Guardiola looks for in a left-back, but City have left this so late. The Sky Blues won the title just months ago and have overseen a summer exodus of players, so this is uncharted territory.
In response to Fernandinho (free transfer to Athletico Paranaense), Gabriel Jesus (£47m to Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (£50.6m to Chelsea), Oleksandr Zinchenko (£32m to Arsenal) leaving, City brought in Kalvin Phillips (£44m from Leeds United), Erling Haaland (£54m from Borussia Dortmund) and Stefan Ortega (free transfer from Aminia Bielefeld).
Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer and James McAtee could be internal solutions to Sterling’s departure while Cucurella is likely to replace Zinchenko, but City have been sloppy in negotiations as they could start the season with only Joao Cancelo in the makeshift role unless they put in an improved bid.
In other news, Pep Guardiola weakening Man City and strengthening PL rival with 25 y/o’s exit
City have sold two forwards (Sterling and Jesus) and brought in two forwards (Haarland and Alvares) plus the youngsters are a year older but numerically they are equal to last year. The new season will tell us if it is better or not. Ake is still a Man City player so he is a possiblity to play at left back. So at present they are one down (Zinchenko) from last year. But negotiations for new players are still on going. Only when those have been completed can we judge whether City have been “sloppy” or not.
i want them to bring cullurela make them bring him to our team
Egan-Riley
Ake
Laporte
Can all play there along with Cancelo.
Cucurella should be brought please….., from Uganda
Shall even wear his number if he comes
If Brighton won’t play ball (which is their prerogative) or City don’t increase the offer for Cucurella, move on. There are other LBs equal to and better if we really want to solve the LB issue which really isn’t an issue but more an ideal.
Blimey, we already know everything written in this article.
If you’re going to report on City, tell us something we don’t know.
Would like to see Egan-Riley used more.
Exactly…