sport news Manchester City want to add Marc Cucurella to their ranks but he solve Pep ... trends now

sport news Manchester City want to add Marc Cucurella to their ranks but he solve Pep ... trends now
sport news Manchester City want to add Marc Cucurella to their ranks but he solve Pep ... trends now

sport news Manchester City want to add Marc Cucurella to their ranks but he solve Pep ... trends now

With a seemingly bottomless war chest at his disposal, the surprise following Sportsmail's exclusive reports that Pep Guardiola is looking to the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion's Marc Cucurella to fill in the missing pieces of his star-studded squad is understandable.  

But despite a squad being worth in excess of £863million, it is easy to forget that Manchester City are not without weakness, and Guardiola has publicly announced his intention to sign 'hungry' players.

City's failed pursuit of Harry Kane last summer ultimately cast a spotlight on that vacant number nine position at the top of the team sheet, but this was not the only problem area for the reigning Premier League champions.

Marc Cucurella has started 34 games in the Premier League, with one assist and one goal

Marc Cucurella has started 34 games in the Premier League, with one assist and one goal

Guardiola and City have already acted decisively, bringing in Erling Haaland for £51million to address one gaping area of the squad, and now they seem to have identified the solution to another one. 

For the last season Guardiola has been playing without a recognised left back. Yes, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo have deputised here, the latter frequently to impressive effect, but neither are naturals in this position. 

They have learned to play on City's left flank in a stringently possession based Guardiola system, but the Catalan manager has been outspoken in his need for a full-time replacement, and Cucurella seems to be as close to a perfect solution as City are likely to find.   

Manchester City signed Erling Haaland for £51million from German side  Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City signed Erling Haaland for £51million from German side  Borussia Dortmund

Why him?

After a relatively inauspicious £15.4million switch to Brighton from Getafe last summer, Marc Cucurella Saseta, 23, previously described as 'the next Jordi Alba', managed just one assist and one goal in 2021/22.

But despite his reputation as one of the most attacking coaches in world football, it is not these stats that will interest Guardiola. What will catch his eye is Cucurella's 241 possession recoveries - a Premier League high - in 34 matches. After all, you can't keep the ball if you don't actually have it.

Whilst Zinchenko and Cancelo have had to learn to play in a Guardiola system, Cucurella graduated from La Masia, Barcelona's academy which instills in young footballers the tenets of tiki-taka football. It is unlikely then that Guardiola and his staff will have to spend too much time showing him the ropes. 

Pep Guardiola said he wants to sign 'hungry' players

Brighton signed Cucurella in 2021 for £15,4million

Guardiola wants to sign young and 'hungry' players, with Cucurella, 23, a summer target

And the one thing that Guardiola loves more than players who are willing to devote everything to his play-style, is those who are capable of playing in several positions.

At times this season Cucurella, who is a left back by trade, has been deployed as a left-winger as well as starting against Chelsea as a centre half. 

The £30million that City would have to pay for the Catalan native's signature can only make him a more enticing prospect, and is by City's big-spending reputation, something of a bargain.  Does he have

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