How good is Chelsea and Man City transfer target Cucurella?

James Shearman

• Updated: 18 May 2022 10:11 CDT
• 3 min read

Chelsea and Manchester City are interested in signing Brighton defender Marc Cucurella in the next transfer window.

Cucurella has been a revelation for Graham Potter's side this season, following the move from Getafe last summer.

The Spaniard left the La Liga club for £15 million on the back of the Tokyo Olympic Games and has excelled in the Premier League to date.

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Indeed, the former Barcelona man has won Brighton's Player of the Year in his debut season.

As such, the likes of Chelsea and Man City have taken notice and are plotting a £30m move for the defender this summer.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is thought to be an admirer of the 23-year-old, hoping to sign him as a replacement for Marcos Alonso.

Cucurella would also be able to take some of the load away from Ben Chilwell in the left wing-back position, who is recovering from a long-term ACL injury.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are looking to replace Benjamin Mendy, who has been unavailable this season.

Joao Cancelo has filled in exceptionally well on the left, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is a decent option, but Cucurella would certainly improve Pep Guardiola's team.

Brighton would likely reject the £30m that the two clubs are reportedly willing to offer, instead holding out for closer to £50m - which they received for Ben White from Arsenal a year ago.

With this price tag in mind, how good is the Seagulls defender?

How good is Cucurella?

Cucurella, a possible contender for Premier League signing of the season, has taken to his new surroundings extremely well.

''He’s been really important for us, a really infectious personality, so the lads all love him,'' Potter has said of the Spaniard.

''A great character and bubbly personality around the club and then on the pitch he just brings energy and quality.

''He’s grown up at Barcelona, so he knows how to play. Now he’s just desperate to have an impact in the Premier League and we’ve been so happy with him.''

His one goal and one assist in 34 league starts is underwhelming, an area that can be improved on for sure.

Instead, the most impressive part of Cucurella's game, as an attack-minded player, has been his defensive ability.

In fact, he ranks fifth of all Premier League players in terms of tackles, 91, ahead of Cancelo, West Ham's Declan Rice and teammate Yves Bissouma.

A quality player with an international future ahead of him, Brighton will do well to keep hold of the wing-back in this summer's transfer window, having earned a move to one of Europe's top clubs.