Man City manager Pep Guardiola admits that Chelsea only won the transfer race for left-back Marc Cucurella because the higher-ups at the club didn't want to pay the £63million that Brighton were demanding.
The Blues and new owner Todd Boehly started to put the motion in works on the deal for the 24-year-old during the dinner which he hosted out in London with his other Premier League executives to get to know them more. On top of Cucurella, talks with Carney Chukwuemeka started at that first meeting with representatives who attended the meal from Aston Villa. Cucurella to Chelsea only became viable once Man City walked away from negotiations. Prior to the west Londoners' interest being lodged in the former Barcelona academy graduate, the player in question himself had his heart set on playing in East Manchester under Guardiola.
A dream that he ensured the Seagulls would at least seriously consider when he handed in a transfer request. A request itself which Chelsea themselves pounced on as manager Thomas Tuchel saw the Brighton full-back as the perfect competition for Ben Chilwell with both Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri expected to leave before September 1. His versatility also means he can play in a back three system at left-centre-half which is perfect for Tuchel as the versatility covers two positions technically. But why did City themselves just completely walk away without a fight for a player Guardiola earmarked to come in alongside star signing Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips?
