Seagulls’ swoop for Williams
EXCLUSIVE BY STEVE BATES MANCHESTER UNITED left-back Brandon Williams is wanted by Brighton in a £15million deal.
Brighton boss Graham Potter has identified the 21-year-old as the ideal replacement for Marc Cucurella, with Manchester City pressing to sign the Seagulls’ Spanish defender.
Despite so far failing to meet Brighton’s £50m price tag for Cucurella, it’s understood Potter accepts Etihad boss Pep Guardiola will get his man in the end.
City have allowed £32m Oleksandr Zinchenko to join Arsenal, and targeted Cucurella as the priority signing for left-back.
Guardiola had him scouted several times last season and believes the attack-minded star will suit their style perfectly.
Cucurella (below) – signed for £15m from La Liga side Getafe last summer – is only a year into a five-year contract.
The economic landscape means Brighton will let him leave, but have told City they must significantly improve on their opening £30m bid.
Williams, who spent last season on loan at relegated Norwich, is highly regarded at Old Trafford.
In his breakthrough season in 2019-20 he played 36 games for the club and followed that with 14 games the season after, which included a debut in the Champions League.
But the arrival of Tyrell Malacia in a £14.7m switch from Feyenoord has dented Williams’ hopes of a regular game, with the Dutch international having impressed United players and staff alike already.
Malacia will battle Luke Shaw for the left-back slot, leaving Williams on the fringes and open to a move to progressive, ambitious Brighton.
It is believed contact has been made between the two clubs – but Brighton are awaiting developments with Cucurella before actively pursuing Williams.