Man City identify fearsome Cucurella alternative who Chelsea and Leeds both turned their backs on

Man City have identified an assist machine Leeds and Chelsea opted against bidding for as an alternative to Marc Cucurella, and the bargain fee he’ll command has been revealed.

Man City could soon have an opening they must fill in their full-back ranks. Oleksandr Zinchenko looks on course to become Arsenal’s fifth summer signing. A £30m fee has been agreed and discussions over personal terms are reportedly underway.

If the Ukrainian does leave, Pep Guardiola will remarkably be left with just two frontline full-backs – Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo.

Brighton’s Marc Cucurella has repeatedly been named as Guardiola’s No 1 target if Zinchenko leaves. CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs reaffirmed the Spaniard is City’s priority target.

However, Brighton are expected to hold out for around £50m. While Man City have the financial muscle to make a deal of that size, whether they will is another matter entirely.

Indeed, City’s spending this window has been more measured as they aim to implement a more self-sustaining model.

The likes of Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips and Julian Alvarez have arrived. Though the combined fees for those three are dwarfed by the £131m they have generated from player sales this summer.

A cheaper alternative now in City’s sights, according to Jacobs, is Stuttgart’s Borna Sosa.

The Croatian left-back, 24, has developed a reputation as an assist king in recent years.

He is capable of operating either as an orthodox left-back or wing-back, though his attacking output remains fierce from either position.

Indeed, Sosa provided nine assists in just 30 matches across all competitions last year. The season prior he returned 10 assists in 28.

His appearance tallies have been hampered by injuries, though when fit, he is as