Man City tipped to delay move for ‘excellent’ 24 y/o who ‘Pep Guardiola likes’

Manchester City are keen to sign Marc Cucurella as a replacement for Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko, but their opening bid for the 24-year-old was rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Seagulls are holding out for £50m and the new Premier League season begins in less than two weeks, so Pep Guardiola is under pressure to have his squad ready to start the campaign.

Alan Hutton doesn’t think the City manager will rush, however, as he believes longing out the deal will help the Sky Blues land Cucurella’s signature for cheaper this summer.

He told Football Insider: “They seem as if they’ve identified him as the number one target. I think they’ll try and hold on for as long as possible. I thought he was excellent last season in the Brighton team, he loved getting forward, he was tenacious, everything that Pep Guardiola likes.

“With Zinchenko going, (Nathan) Ake, these types of players, it’s one of those that he’ll need somebody in. I think a natural left-footer on that side helps with the balance.” Zinchenko’s surprise departure has left Guardiola with only Joao Cancelo who can play in the role, even though he’s more of a natural at right-back.

Ake and Aymeric Laporte are makeshift options, but Pep does need to sign a proper replacement. Whether City will pay what Brighton are asking for, however, remains to be seen. The Seagulls hold all the cards in negoations, as Cucurella has four years left on his deal at the Amex Stadium.

So long as the 24-year-old doesn’t have his head turned, they can play hard ball.

In other news, Man City suffer £1.1m loss on Aro Muric despite signing him on a free transfer