Manchester City on the verge of reaching verbal agreement with Marc Cucurella

Manchester City are reportedly getting closer to reaching an agreement with 23-year-old Spanish international Marc Cucurella.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are on the verge of reaching an agreement with Pep Guardiola’s top defensive target Marc Cucurella. Personal terms with the player are expected to be verbally agreed upon sooner rather than later, with the Citizens also set to officially open talks with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester City have already made a statement with the signing of Erling Haaland, followed by the acquisition of Kalvin Phillips, with the duo strengthening their squad. However, since the arrival of the latter, the Premier League champions have lost three valuable assets.

Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea, while Gabriel Jesus move to Arsenal. And now Okelsandr Zinchenko is about to depart from the Etihad. Pep Guardiola recently confirmed the Ukranian international’s departure and is already in the market to find a suitable replacement.

Zinchenko will join Arsenal in a £32 million deal, and Guardiola views Marc Cucurella as the ideal replacement. The 23-year-old Brighton defender has been Manchester City’s top defensive target from the start of the window, with the deal starting to take shape in the last week or so.

Excl: Manchester City are finally set to open official talks with Brighton for Marc Cucurella, bid is coming – full verbal agreement almost reached on personal terms. ?? #MCFC

Cucurella, always been Pep’s priority this summer and City will now push after selling Zinchenko. pic.twitter.com/pVBhTWNBVB

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 20, 2022

Manchester City made it clear they do not wish to pay over the odds and reportedly kept the ceiling at £50 million for the Spanish international. The price range is similar to Ben White’s transfer fee when he joined Arsenal last summer, and the Premier League champions are open to making a move.

Manchester City are preparing a formal bid for the Spanish defender, with Fabrizio Romano suggesting the deal is inching closer. The two clubs are expected to open form talks imminently, while personal terms have also been discussed with Cucurella.

A deal is expected to go through sooner rather than later, as the Spanish international wants to join Guardiola’s side. Cucurella has spent only one season in England’s top flight, having moved to Brighton from Granada last summer. The 23-year-old defender’s versatility is a significant factor behind Guardiola’s decision to pursue him.

Cucurella can expertly slot in at left-back or in central defence and performed well when deployed in either of those positions last term. Despite Zinchenko’s presence, Guardiola used Joao Cancelo as a left-back last season, and the Manchester United manager desperately needed a full-time left-back. Cucurella could be that player, while Cancelo could play in his favoured position on the other flank.