Pep Guardiola pushing Manchester City to sign Brighton's star defender

Manchester City are reportedly set to bid for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Marc Cucurella who has emerged as the club’s top transfer target at left-back.

It is not known how much City are willing to pay for the Spaniard, but it will have to be a sizeable offer, as the Seagulls will want to make a significant profit on the 23-year-old they purchased from Getafe for £16million last summer.

Fabrizio Romano, as per The Guardian, has reported that Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of his fellow countryman who came through the Barcelona academy.

The City boss is keen to bring in a new left-back this summer, as while Joao Cancelo performed excellently there last year, Benjamin Mendy remains indefinitely suspended and there are rumours suggesting that Oleksandr Zinchenko could be leaving the Etihad.

Cucurella was in outstanding form for Brighton last season, helping Graham Potter’s side to their best ever Premier League finish of ninth and was voted Player of the Season by both the fans and players.

This summer, the Citizens have signed strikers Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland, and club chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has already promised two more signings before the window shuts.

There are also likely to be several outgoings, with the aforementioned Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus heavily linked with Arsenal, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu very close to completing his move to Southampton for £12m and club captain Fernandinho ending his City career after nine-years.

Jesus’ long mooted exit is reportedly close, with the Gunners expecting to sign the forward for just under the £50m that City wanted for the Brazilian.

As for Brighton, losing Cucurella, even for a considerable profit, could spell trouble as the Seagulls are set to lose another one