Manchester City could move in for Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro if they fail to sign Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Manchester City are ready with a contingency plan should they fail to convince Brighton and Hove Albion to sell Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella. The Premier League champions are on the lookout for a left-back after allowing Oleksandr Zinchenko to join Arsenal, with Raphael Guerreiro on their radar.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been short-staffed in the left-back department with Portuguese right-back Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who prefers to play in the midfield, shuffling the position among them. Manchester City entered the transfer market with a left-back signing on their agenda, and Zinchenko’s departure has left them even more short-handed.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Marc Cucurella has been a long-term transfer target for the reigning Premier League champions, with Guardiola said to be a big admirer of the former Barcelona player. Cucurella joined the Seagulls just last summer and was a revelation in his first season in the Premier League.
The Spaniard was named the club’s Player of the Year on the back of his superlative performances that helped the side finish in the top half of the league table. However, Cucurella is now eager to join Guardiola at the Etihad and has even handed in a transfer request to move to Manchester City.
However, Brighton do not intend to sell the 24-year-old just a year after getting him on board. The Seagulls are not willing to lower their asking price of £50 million for the defender, which Manchester City are reluctant to pay, putting the transfer in limbo, especially after the Spaniard has officially requested a move.
While Manchester City are expected to keep trying, they are prepared with alternatives as well. Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro has emerged as an option as per the report by Fichajes, claiming a deal would suit all parties involved.
The 28-year-old has just a year remaining on his contract with the Bundesliga giants, and the club will want to sell the Portuguese international this summer rather than risk losing him for a free next summer. Dortmund have also sold Erling Haaland to the Premier League champions in the ongoing transfer window. It will be interesting to see if Guerreiro joins Manchester City this summer.
