Manchester City are reportedly keeping close tabs on Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella, a player they narrowly missed out on more than three years ago when they failed to meet Brighton’s asking price. According to journalist Simon Phillips on Substack, while the Cityzens are less likely to make a move during the current January transfer window, a “serious approach” could be considered at the end of the season.
Cucurella, who joined Chelsea for £62 million in 2022, still has two and a half years remaining on his Stamford Bridge contract. Though the Blues are under little pressure to sell, the European Championship winner’s future will need to be resolved sooner rather than later.
Since BlueCo took over the West London side, their policy has hinged heavily on selling players for a fee rather than allowing their contracts run out. Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are recent examples of that approach, and Cucurella could join that list if no new deal is offered.
City’s renewed interest is not without justification. The club’s £31m first-choice left-back, Rayan Aït-Nouri, has struggled for continuity due to injury setbacks and his absence during the African Cup of Nations and Pep Guardiola has also shown growing preference for Nico O’Reilly in recent matches.
With Aït-Nouri availability limited, Cucurella would present Manchester City with a tailor-made solution, a defender already well versed in the demands of the Premier Leagues and capable of slotting in seamlessly into the Guardiolan Empire.
Cucurella endured a difficult start to life at Chelsea, initially struggling to adapt following his high-profile move. However, his resilience has seen him overcome those early challenges, emerging as one of the Blue’s most consistent performers over the last two seasons.
His form has been particularly evident on the European stage, most recently during Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Barcelona, where he played a key role in nullifying teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in a convincing 3-0 victory.
For Manchester City, the interest in Cucurella has stemmed from a practical search for depth on the left, and if Chelsea fail to offer a contract extension, the 27-year-old Spaniard could once again become one of Manchester City’s transfer targets.
