Marc Cucurella hands in transfer request in bid to force through Man City move as Brighton demand £50m
BRIGHTON are not budging in their bid to keep Marc Cucurella despite the full-back handing in a transfer request.
Champions Manchester City are keen to land the left-back, 24, and he has made it clear he is interested in moving to The Etihad.
The Seagulls have slapped a £50million price-tag on the Spaniard, who won player of the year at The Amex during his first season in the Premier League last term.
City boss Pep Guardiola has identified his compatriot as an ideal addition as they look to defend their Prem title.
Brighton, however, are determined to keep hold of the flying full-back unless their demands are met.
Graham Potter has already seen Yves Bisoumma sold to Tottenham for £25million this summer and does not want to lose another key man.
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Talks have been held over a fee but the two clubs remain a long way apart and City are not keep to go up to £50million, despite netting £30million from the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal.
Cucurella has taken matters into his own hands to try and force a move through but Brighton have no need to sell.
Ahead of this weekend's Community Shield, Pep Guardiola was asked about the Brighton defender but refused to give anything away.
He told reporters: "He is a Brighton player, I cannot say anything else."
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When pressed on if Man City were in the market for a left back, he added: "If it is possible yes. If not we stay with what we have.
"We have enough players who can play there, Joao Cancelo can play there. Nathan Ake, Josh Wilson-Esbrand. I never complain about the squad I have."
Speaking earlier this month, Brighton chief Tony Bloom said every player had their price but that there was no desire to see any more top players leave.
Bloom said: "There are fewer than three or four clubs where players are not for sale.
"We've got to be realistic and for sure if a certain bid comes in for a player and the player wants to move, the player will move, but we are not anticipating and not looking for our best players to move on.
"If we get a bid then we have to consider it, but until that point we carry on, and we are very happy with the squad of players we have got.
"He [Cucurella] was unbelievably good last season, his first season in the Premier League. We are hoping for more to come."