Marc Cucurella

[CityBluez]

We wanted him at all costs.

Maybe we don’t feel the same about Cucurella.

Maybe we’re haggling this time, whereas we couldn’t last time.

Maybe. But it's strange to be honest. Grealish wasn't immediately needed last season. But we need absolutely LB this season .
Maybe they have a LB in sights , equally better but at a lower price.

I guess we will see.

 

[Tokyo32]

In the case of Walker and Mendy, several years back, too. This guy has just had an outstanding season for his club. Without him, it’s doubtful they would have got even ninth place.
Oh yeah, and we got about three matches out of Benjamin Mendy. Made some posts on Twitter, though.
If there’s any truth to this, £30 million as an opening bid is almost taking the piss. Stump up the money, City. It’ll be worth it.

I really don’t get how everyone has convinced themselves that Cucurella is worth 50m though. Links to us started in may and price was 35m, now everyone is convinced he is 50m

I don’t know his worth but I would trust the club to do what they feel is best.

 

[SWP's back]

did you miss last season?

I assume you did. Zinchenko didn’t play in 7 out of the ten months of the season for a reason.

 

[eversince 76]

It’s simple. We want a LB that is presumably our number 1 target. Playing for Brighton who did a great job scouting him. With the club absolutely in no urgency to sell him, and the player stating he feels fine playing for them. And even if they can get a quick profit, Brighton can and will ask a price that suits them. Nothing to blame them nor the player.

We have put our ourselves in a position that we may need a LB by selling Zinchenko before getting a replacement. Unless we are convinced we can get a replacement. Maybe the number 1 target playing for Brighton. Or someone else like we did when getting Dias. Having another number 1 all the time.

If we won’t get our replacement whoever that may be, we will do without one and play either Cancelo or Ake if we stick to 4-3-3. Not ideal yet no disaster.

If -doubt it as it’s Pep- but IF Pep decides to play 3-5-2 due to the change of players so far, the need of a LB looks different as well.

Long story short: we don’t know and we need to be patient.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Maybe. But it's strange to be honest. Grealish wasn't immediately needed last season. But we need absolutely LB this season .
Maybe they have a LB in sights , equally better but at a lower price.

I guess we will see.

Grealish was the pin up boy of the Euros.

Cucurella would find it hard to be the pin up boy in the cockerpoo class at his local kennels.

 

[sir baconface]

If Liverpool was after him he be told to go on strike don’t turn up for training plus all the media telling them to let him leave!

And he’d crawl along the East Lancs Road on burning tarmac singing You’ll Never Walk Alone.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Think he might even be an auxiliary midfielder at times next season

Possibly, he’s comfortable enough to play that role and provide cover

 

[CityBluez]

I assume you did. Zinchenko didn’t play in 7 out of the ten months of the season for a reason.

And he became undroppable towards the end. sorry but thats squad depth if you want to win max trophies in a season.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

I'm sorry but this is absurd if City do this again, like they did with Kane. What's the point in 'making someone your priority target', find out the fee, claim it's £20m more than you want to pay and that you'll walk away if it's not lowered!? Particularly after selling a LB.

Brighton have no need or obligation to lower their estimation by such a great amount. Bizarre strategy.

Worse strategy than the 'just pay whatever they ask for' method?

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

And he’d crawl along the East Lancs Road on burning tarmac singing You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Replace YNWA with bluenoon and Geoff Thomas is revealed on Google (:

 

[Ajm1985]

So if you saw a house in a nice area where houses are worth 150k and you were quoted £300k you would just buy it because that’s the house you wanted???
You would be skint very quickly with those negotiating skills!!
Brighton have no obligation to sell at any price, but if the lad feels it’s a fair price and they are taking the piss coz it’s city then he may have to force the move
The deal will be done for 35m with add ons
It will get reported as 50m coz it’s us

Christ on a bike, no. Where on earth have I said that I think City should pay what is quoted?

My issue is the strategy of making someone a prime target, hearing the quoted fee is massively above your top estimate and then acting as if walking away is something the selling club would care about. As said, Brighton would be happy enough to keep hold of Cucurella so why would they substantially reduce their selling fee? Particularly as it's clear we now need fullback depth. It's a bizarre strategy.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I assume you did. Zinchenko didn’t play in 7 out of the ten months of the season for a reason.

I’ve liked your post, and I’m a Zin fan! I respect everything Zin did for the squad, within his limits, but he was never more than back-up. And yes, he had a terrific final game against Villa, I was there to see it.
This is gravy of a different flavour.

 

[Seegoals]

Possibly, he’s comfortable enough to play that role and provide cover

He's stepped up to play midfield with us, the man is a wizard!!

 

[leo_city]

What I don't get is why'd we sell Zinchenko without a replacement first? Surely this strengthens Brighton's position knowing we absolutely want a replacement now. I have seen alternative targets but it's a bit surprising the way we've gone about this. Maybe I am reaching and they are going to get him soon anyway, but from what we've read or heard so far, it isn't ideal.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

Not been on here much today, so I might have missed something - but it seems all the negativity around this transfer came from an earlier story by Mark Ogden. Who is not remotely reliable for City.

Admittedly the £20m difference line has just been reinforced by Martin Blackburn - who is usually very good for City - which is a little more concerning.

But this same journalist was telling us all last night that Zin was weighing up whether to go to Arsenal or not when, apparently at the same time according to Pep’s presser today, the squad were having a goodbye dinner for him.

It definitely seems Blackburn is being used to put positions out on City’s behalf on this tour that may not be the full truth.

Either way, I see no credible need for pessimism at this stage.

A very reliable ITK did say on here last night a £37m +12 bid had gone in, which - if true - would make the £20m difference stories more than a little implausible.

 

[Tokyo32]

I guess it depends whether you think £50 mil is overpaying. Personally think it’s more than a fair price for their player of the season and I can’t believe we thought we could get the deal done for £30 mil

Not for me personally.

I think 50m is overpaying and like 40 is fair price

 

[applejuice]

Unlikely with 4 years left on his contract. They could keep him for 2 years and still get 40m, zero urgency to sell below their value.

A lot things can happen in 2 years time. He might get injury which is no surprise for full backs. Some new stars may appear. Some established full backs may want to change the scene. Cucurella is not a home grown player, little hope to play in this coming world cup if he stays, age nearly 25. And full backs is a position where UK usually produces good players but it just happens that all good ones are already grabbed by other big 6 clubs(because we wasted time in Mendy) and the next generation like Thomas and Mitchell are just a bit too young for a CL level team. But in 2 years time they may be better options for us.


So here we are. Brighton should sell this summer and grab this opportunity. I will say a price around 40M is reasonable to both sides.

 

[CityBluez]

What I don't get is why'd we sell Zinchenko without a replacement first? Surely this strengthens Brighton's position knowing we absolutely want a replacement now. I have seen alternative targets but it's a bit surprising the way we've gone about this. Maybe I am reaching and they are going to get him soon anyway, but from what we've read or heard so far, it isn't ideal.

Maybe they have other LBs lined up if Brighton don't compromise. That's the only reasonable option i can think of. Raum , Sosa etc. In half the price

 

[Coatigan]

I thought he was rubbish against Villa. Offered nothing going forwards.

Opinions hey?

Just to be clear, I don't actually think we would be fine with 2FBs, and I don't think Stones can play at RB, not in any meaningful capacity anyway. Just in case It wasn't obvious. I was being facetious.

I am not worried about us signing a LB either, I know we will get someone in. Will keep hoping for a 4th FB in the team as well.

 

[Barcon]

Everybody's getting bent out of shape in here about imaginary numbers concocted on the internet by strangers.