Transfer Talk: City eye other targets with Cucurella deal unlikely

Manchester City’s move for Marc Cucurella looks to be dead in the water with them refusing to match Brighton’s asking price.

The Seagulls want £50million for the Spaniard after he won their Player of the Season award in his first year in the Premier League.

That is a blow for Pep Guardiola, who identified Cucurella, 24, as the perfect upgrade at left-back.

City have had a £30m rejected previously, despite the player being keen on a move.

But with Brighton offering Cucurella an improved deal, the Mail say City are ready to turn their attentions elsewhere.

Benfica’s Alex Grimaldo and Stuttgart left-back Borna Sosa are two other options for Guardiola, who is desperate to improve on his options after Oleksandr Zinchenko moved to Arsenal.

Joao Cancelo filled in there brilliantly at times last term but is right-footed, and even the likes of Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte featured there in some games.

Grimaldo, 26, has made 246 appearances over the past six years for Benfica since moving from Barcelona.

Czech international Sosa, 24, has been a key performer for Stuttgart in the past couple of seasons, having originally signed for them in 2018.

They would both represent cheaper options the Seagulls star Cucurella.

In other news

West Ham remain in negotiations with Eintracht Frankfurt’s 29-year-old wing-back Filip Kostic, according to 90min.

Barcelona are considering a move for Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon, 25, with signing Marcos Alonso proving tricky, say AS.

The Athletic believe both AC Milan and Roma are contemplating for Eric Bailly, with the 28-year-old’s future at Manchester United unclear.