---
title: "Man City: BBC pundit says Blues will wait for ‘number one target’ Marc Cucurella"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/man-city-marc-cucurella-oleksandr-zinchenko-transfer-gossip-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2022-07-22T11:15:58Z"
modified: "2022-07-22T11:15:58Z"
---

# Man City: BBC pundit says Blues will wait for ‘number one target’ Marc Cucurella

**Former Premier League defender Alan Hutton believes [Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) will wait to sign Brighton and Hove Albion star Marc Cucurella.**

### The lowdown: One in, one out

Cucurella has been [heavily linked](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1549104025823596544) with a move to Manchester in recent weeks and the speculation has only intensified as Oleksandr Zinchenko [edges closer](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12656009/arsenal-set-to-sign-oleksandr-zinchenko-mikel-arteta-on-transfers) towards a move to Arsenal.

The 24-year-old fully fledged Spain international enjoyed a stellar debut campaign in England, having [arrived](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11741/12395762/transfer-news-brighton-confirm-signing-of-marc-cucurella-from-getafe-on-contract-until-2026) from La Liga outfit Getafe for an undisclosed fee last summer, and was praised for his [‘absolutely outstanding’](https://twitter.com/buntingfootball/status/1476304881283653635?s=21&t=uDOsjt6-TaKTdcc4zCwbkw) form after a 1-1 draw against Chelsea by journalist Josh Bunting.

After seeing an initial £30million bid rejected, the Blues are expected to return with an [improved offer](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11037599/Manchester-City-make-improved-offer-Marc-Cucurella-initial-bid-rejected.html) for the man who ‘only wants Man City’ according to [Fabrizio Romano](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1550208944886480897) and one pundit has now delivered his verdict on the situation…

### The latest: Cucurella or no one?

Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/man-city-expected-to-hold-out-for-marc-cucurella-after-journalists-reveal-pundit/), ex-Aston Villa right-back and [BBC Sport co-commentator](https://icdb.tv/stats/3725/Alan-Hutton) Hutton suggested that Manchester City would be happy to bid their time to land the [five-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marc-cucurella/nationalmannschaft/spieler/284857/verein_id/53824) ace.

He said: “They seem as if they’ve identified him as the number one target. I think they’ll try and hold on for as long as possible. I thought he was excellent last season in the Brighton team, he loved getting forward, he was tenacious, everything that Pep Guardiola likes.

“With Zinchenko going, \[Nathan\] Ake, these types of players, it’s one of those that he’ll need somebody in. I think a natural left-footer on that side helps with the balance. I’ve just got a feeling that he’s the number one target and they will wait for him.

“They’ve got \[Joao\] Cancelo who can play over there if it doesn’t materialise, so they’ve got an option. So it’s not a problem for Man City and I think they’ll hold out as long as possible.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”397988″\]

### The verdict: Stop-gap may be required

As Premier League champions with a hunger for success in Europe, Guardiola and City moreover are unlikely to settle for alternative options in the market, particularly when Cucurella is clearly so [highly regarded](https://www.marca.com/en/football/manchester-city/2022/06/16/62ab5ba846163f9abb8b45e5.html) at the Etihad.

Last season, the marauding Spaniard – himself formerly of Barcelona – earned an outstanding 7.11 [Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/marc-cucurella/794939) rating whilst winning 5.5 duels, making 1.9 clearances and completing 1.2 key passes on average per game – highlighting the aforementioned ability in both a defensive and attacking capacity.

Under contract until 2026, the south coast club are in a position of great strength and whether or not the City hierarchy are willing to match Brighton’s [£50million valuation](https://www.google.com/search?q=brighton+50+million+cucuralla&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB885GB885&oq=brighton+50+million+cucuralla&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i10i160l3.5105j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) remains to be seen.

Therefore, should the deal prove to be impossible to complete, not signing a Zinchenko replacement could be out of the question and Benfica full-back Alejandro Grimaldo, who has [reportedly](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news-newcastles-striker-problem-evertons-need-for-more-quality-and-frenkie-de-jong-latest-1753260?ITO=newsnow) been offered to the Sky Blues, may need to be considered as a purely stopgap option at Eastlands if push comes to shove.