Manchester City are reportedly interested in acquiring the services of Brighton's Marc Cucurella this summer as Pep Guardiola looks to build on 2021-22's title-winning campaign.
Guardiola has had to deal with issues at left-back since his arrival, with Manchester City often deploying the right-footed Joao Cancelo there last season.
According to a report in The Guardian, Cucurella remains their top target at left-back with the Spaniard having impressed for Brighton last term.
As with their issues at centre forward, the club appear to be moving to resolve the particular hole in their squad through moving early in the market for an established figure.
The report claims that Manchester City's initial offer for the player is expected 'within days'
Cucurella arrived at Brighton last summer from Spanish side Getafe. He was at Barcelona for a period of time but never got an opportunity in the first team.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, like Cancelo, has done admirably for Manchester City in the left-back role but it appears as though Guardiola has finally decided it is time for a specialist in that position.
Benjamin Mendy, who Manchester City signed in the summer of 2017, is suspended indefinitely.
It has been suggested, however, that Brighton are reluctant to sell Cucurella who was one of the club's premier performers last term. He has a contract that runs until 2026 and as such Brighton will not be compelled to sell for anything less than their own valuation.
Manchester City, however, often get the player should they want him and as such it will be a saga that could rumble on throughout the summer.
Were Cucurella to move, he would join forward's Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez as a new arrival at the club this summer.
Meanwhile, departures are also expected at Manchester City this summer. It is believed that Gabriel Jesus will certainly be leaving after the arrivals of the aforementioned centre-forwards, likely to Arsenal, while Raheem Sterling is also being touted with a move away.
Both Jesus and Sterling have a year left to run on their current deals, but Manchester City should still command adequate fees for both of them.
