Manchester City appear to have deviated from their usual strategy when it comes to replacing players, and it represents a huge risk.
Since the end of the season City have intended to upgrade their options at left-back, with Brighton's Marc Cucurella very much Pep Guardiola's number one target.
Oleksandr Zinchenko — who featured in just 15 Premier League matches last season — is now close to leaving the Blues for Arsenal, after the two clubs reached an agreement on a fee of around £30m. The Ukrainian left-back is expected to agree personal terms and undergo a medical with the London club this week, following Gabriel Jesus in swapping the Etihad for the Emirates this summer.
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However, despite the developments in the Zinchenko deal there has been little movement in City's pursuit of Cucurella. It is likely that a move for the 23-year-old Spaniard hinges on the sale of Zinchenko, but there doesn't seem to have been so much as an initial approach to Brighton.
For City to sell a player in a key position and not fully sound out his replacement is unusual behaviour for a club that has always conducted its transfer business on its own terms. It is a risky change in approach.
City are believed to be readying an opening bid for Cucurella, but Zinchenko's move to Arsenal could well be confirmed in the meantime. That means that City will be in a position where they must sign a replacement, and Brighton will know that only too well.
With four years remaining on his current contract, Cucurella was never going to be a cheap signing for City. However, Brighton could jack up their asking price even further, in the knowledge that City must sign a left-back this summer and that they have the player the Blues really want.
It's an unusual situation for City, as when players leave their replacements have usually already been signed, or at the least City have the structure of a deal in place.
Fernandinho left the club upon the expiration of his contract in June, but City knew they would only have to activate the £42m release clause in Kalvin Phillips' Leeds contract to secure the Brazilian's replacement without a hitch. The same can be said of the signing of Erling Haaland, while Julian Alvarez was signed in January long before Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus decided to leave.
Now City could have their patience and resolve tested by Brighton. If the Seagulls' asking price is too high, then the Blues must be prepared to walk away and abandon hopes of signing a key target, as was the case with Jorginho, Frenkie de Jong and Harry Maguire.
There is likely more to it, but this situation could have been avoided had City made an approach for Cucurella before agreeing to sell Zinchenko.
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