EXCLUSIVE: City to make £30m swoop for Brighton left back Cucurella

Manchester City have targeted Brighton’s Marc Cucurella to fill their problem left back position and will make a £30million move this summer.

Manager Pep Guardiola said last week he wants to add ‘hungry’ players and the 23-year-old fits the bill. 

Cucurella joined Brighton last summer from Getafe and has made 34 league appearances, scoring once and providing one assist.

No full back in the Premier League has won possession more than Cucurella’s 241 times. 

Brighton paid Getafe £15.4m for him but Sportsmail understands City would need to find double that to land a player who spent six years at Barcelona’s academy and has been capped once by Spain.

City have predominantly used Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo at left back this season. 

Cancelo has been outstanding but his natural position is on the other flank.

Guardiola wants a more orthodox left back to provide balance and Cucurella’s age and versatility — he can also play as a wide midfielder — has convinced the City manager to move for him.

City have already signed Erling Haaland and Guardiola would like to bring in another midfielder because he will soon lose Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan.