- Nabeel
Manchester City prepared to walk away from Marc Cucurella deal if Brighton demands become excessive
Manchester City are prepared to walk away from a deal to sign left-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton if the Seagulls' demands for the player approach the £50 million mark, according to Pol Ballus in The Athletic.
Ballus reports that the Premier League champions will start formal contacts with Graham Potter's side in the coming days but will walk away from a deal if Brighton, who are expecting a deal to value close to the £50 million they received from Arsenal for Ben White, really do demand those kinds of figures.
However, The Athletic report that sources close to the potential transfer believe there is room for negotiation while being confident that an agreement can be reached. City agreeing on personal terms with the Spaniard is not expected to be a problem, according to the report.
Chelsea are also credited with an interest in Cucurella, but the 23-year-old is said to be intent on joining Pep Guardiola's side as there is a strong belief within the player's circle that a move to the Etihad Stadium would elevate his game.
It has widely been reported that City could use their young academy players as makeweights in their summer transfer dealings, and last week we covered information from the ever-reliable Martin Blackburn in The Sun, who reported that James McAtee could be used as a loan makeweight in a bid to land Cucurella from Brighton on more favourable terms.
Potter's side have held an interest in the 19-year-old midfielder, having an £8 million offer for the player rejected last year, but Ballus reports that Brighton are not thought to be an option for McAtee currently.
It remains to be seen what comes of the club's pursuit of Cucurella in the coming days and weeks, although it is hard to see City succumbing to Brighton's steep expected valuation, which could signal the move to other full-back targets. However, the confidence of individuals close to the potential move in agreeing a deal may not be misplaced, so it is merely a matter of wait and see.
Written by: @NA1907_
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