City target in hint he could yet coast into Pep’s plans

BRIGHTON & Hove Albion leftback Marc Cucurella may have dropped the biggest hint yet that he wants to complete a move to City this summer.

The Spaniard, who joined Brighton from Getafe in August last year, is the subject of interest from City and Pep Guardiola is a known admirer.

Reports have claimed that he is the Blues’ next ‘top target’ once they have wrapped up the signing of Kalvin Phillips – the Leeds United midfielder is close to moving to the Etihad Stadium in a £45m deal.

City manager Guardiola is keen to strengthen his left-back options and Cucurella, despite only arriving in the Premier League ten months ago, has found himself at the top of the former Barcelona chief’s wish list. Cucurella enjoyed an excellent debut season in Brighton colours, earning himself a wave of plaudits.

The 23-year-old, who has played for Barcelona in the past, is expected to be the subject of a bid from City, highlighting the Blues’ desire to wrap up their business quickly this summer.

Phillips’ impending move to the Etihad certainly caught Cucurella’s attention. That is because the versatile left-sided player ‘liked’ a post on Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano’s Instagram page about the England international, plus City’s interest in himself.

Romano, after addressing Phillips’ move to City, wrote: “City will also work on a deal to sign a new left-back with Cucurella as priority target, bid expected soon – after Erling Haaland and Phillips deals already completed.”

Eagle-eyed City supporters soon spotted that Cucurella had ‘liked’ the post, fuelling yet further speculation about his future.