Manchester City 'ready to lodge official bid for Marc Cucurella'

The former Barcelona youngster earned high praise during his debut season under Graham Potter, where he scored one goal and provided two assists in 38 appearances in all tournaments.

Cucurella started 35 Premier League matches for the Seagulls, either at left-back, left-wing back or in a back three, as his side secured a ninth-placed finish in the division.

Cucurella is still under contract at the Amex Stadium until the summer of 2026, but the 23-year-old has unsurprisingly attracted interest from European-competing clubs.

Man City have long been regarded as the frontrunners to sign Cucurella this summer, and the Premier League champions are now set to step up their interest in the Spain international.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Man City have prepared their opening bid for Cucurella and are hopeful of wrapping up a deal with Brighton 'as soon as possible'.

Cucurella has allegedly been identified as Pep Guardiola's priority target for the left-back spot, with Brighton chairman Tony Bloom affirming earlier this month that no bids had been made for the defender.

"All I can say about Marc is he is a tremendous player, a tremendous person. He is brilliant for the dressing room. The players love him," Bloom told The Argus.

"Graham (Potter) and the coaching staff love him, I love him, the fans love him. He was unbelievably good last season, his first season in the Premier League. We are hoping for more to come and we haven't had a bid for him."

Cucurella made just one senior appearance for Barcelona before being allowed to leave for Getafe in 2019 - initially on loan - and he could arrive at the Etihad as a replacement for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The versatile Ukrainian is now on the verge of a £30m move to Arsenal and is understood to have agreed personal terms on a four-year deal with the Gunners, where he would reunite with Mikel Arteta and Gabriel Jesus.

Zinchenko only made 10 Premier League starts last term, though, with Joao Cancelo often preferred at left-back after Benjamin Mendy was suspended by the club following his police charge.

Should Cucurella complete a move to Man City, he would become Guardiola's fourth summer signing after Erling Braut Haaland, Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Ortega.

However, City have supposedly lined up Stuttgart's Borna Sosa as a potential alternative if a deal cannot be struck with Brighton for Cucurella.