Brighton have reportedly pulled out of talks with Manchester City over the champions’ pursuit of Marc Cucurella.
Pep Guardiola is keen to add the Spain left-back to his squad this summer having sold Aleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal for approximately £30million.
City opened the bidding for Cucurella at around the same value which Brighton, quite rightly, laughed off. The Seagulls want £50million for the 24-year-old.
The two clubs have been in discussions over the last week, with Cucurella taking matters in to his own hands on Friday by reportedly submitting a transfer request.
But The Athletic says Brighton have now backed away from those discussions having told City to meet their valuation or look elsewhere.
The Seagulls have made their position clear, telling City they won’t entertain incremental increases in the value of any bids.
Brighton successfully got Arsenal up to £50million last summer and they are taking a similar approach, believing Cucurella to be a greater asset.
According to the story, the Seagulls ‘consider Cucurella to be a rarer and better talent than England international White, as he plays in three positions on the left’. Arsenal Twitter – assemble!
Last week, it was reported that City were confident of Brighton agreeing to their terms because, with a £30million offer, they were offering the south coast club almost a 100 per cent return on their investment after Cucurella was signed from Getafe for £15.4million last summer.
Cucurella played in all 35 Premier League matches for Brighton last season after arriving three games into the Premier League campaign.
Guardiola was asked about Cucurella at his press conference to preview Saturday’s Community Shield clash with Liverpool.
“He is a Brighton player. I cannot say anything else,” he said.
Asked whether he wants to sign a left-back, Guardiola added: “If it is possible, yes. If not, we stay with what we have.
“We have enough players who can play there. Joao [Cancelo] can play there, Josh [Wilson-Esbrand], Nathan [Ake] can play there.”
If City refuse to meet Brighton’s demands for Cucurella, they could turn to Benfica defender Alex Grimaldo or Stuttgart’s Borna Sosa.
But, really, they should just pay up for the Spaniard with the luscious locks.
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