Chelsea
Transfer news: Maresca eyes Cucurella reunion at Manchester City
Enzo Maresca has reportedly been holding talks with Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella about a possible move to Manchester City this summer, with journalist Simon Phillips breaking the story. The two men already share a strong working relationship from their time together at Stamford Bridge, and Maresca has since spoken openly about his admiration for the Spaniard, who remained a key figure at Chelsea even after the manager’s departure on New Year’s Day.
Transfer news background: Maresca’s City move gathers pace
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Maresca has already begun collaborating closely with Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana on pre-season planning and transfer activity for the 2026/27 campaign, well ahead of his official appointment as Pep Guardiola’s successor.
That level of early coordination tells you everything about how far along this process really is. Chelsea News writer Phillips states that the club “will absolutely sell” Cucurella this summer, with the 27-year-old described as “set on leaving”, a mood that reportedly dates back to the January transfer window.
Cucurella’s frustration runs deeper than a simple desire for a new challenge. He told reporters in late March: “I understand this is part of the club’s policy… but for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged.” Those words carried significance, and they now read like a farewell statement in hindsight. The left-back currently earns an estimated £175,000 per week at Chelsea, and his market value sits between €37.9m and €46.4m, with Chelsea having originally paid Brighton £65m for him back in 2022.
Transfer news verdict: What should happen this summer?
This move makes sense from nearly every angle, and it deserves to happen. Cucurella is a technically gifted, high-intensity left-back who suits the structured, possession-based system Maresca favours, so the footballing logic writes itself. Chelsea, meanwhile, operate a deliberate squad turnover model and stand to generate solid profit on a player they signed four years ago.
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Realistically, a fee somewhere around £38–42 million lands this deal without excessive negotiation. City need a quality left-sided option as they transition into a new era, and bringing in someone Maresca trusts personally gives the rebuild an immediate foundation. This transfer news story has all the ingredients of a summer deal that actually crosses the finish line, provided Chelsea move quickly and find a replacement, with Lewis Hall already emerging as a credible option according to Phillips.