Manchester City have set their sights on an alternative option to Marc Cucurella if the Premier League champions are unable to do business with Brighton this summer, according to reports.
After winning a fourth title in five years, Pep Guardiola has opted to freshen up his star-studded squad this summer. Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips have been welcomed on board, as well as goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
However, with Ukraine defender Oleksandr Zinchenko among those to leave the Etihad Stadium — after he signed a deal to join Arsenal — there is room in the budget for a new left-back. Cucurella, 24, remains the priority target there, but City have already seen one approach for the Spanish international rejected by the Seagulls.
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Cucurella signed for Brighton from Getafe last summer and impressed during his debut Premier League season.
Sports Illustrated have addressed the ongoing pursuit for Cucurella and suggest City will switch their attentions to Stuttgart defender Borna Sosa as an alternative option. Sosa, 25, has three years left to run on his contract with the Bundesliga side, but would most likely command a lower fee than the Brighton man.
Elsewhere, several publications, including Sport,- suggest City are set return to Brighton with an improved offer for Cucurella after seeing their £30m bid rejected. However, the same report also states the Premier League champions will not meet Brighton at their valuation and a compromise will have to be made.
Cucurella progressed through the famed La Masia system at Barcelona and has been capped five times by Spain. He cost Brighton around £16million last summer.
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