Manchester City are set to rival Chelsea for the signature of Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella this summer with both sides looking to reinforce their defence ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Cucurella has been a stand out performer in Graham Potter's side since signing from Barcelona during the summer transfer window and those displays have not gone unnoticed. Pep Guardiola is now eager to bring the defender in to act as a more conventional option at left-back and rival Joao Cancelo, according to MailOnline.
The report also states that the Premier League title hopefuls will offer the Seagulls £30million for Cucurella's services. Thomas Tuchel is eager to bolster his left-back options too having been left short thanks to the knee injury suffered by Ben Chilwell back in December.
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A report from Goal earlier this month indicated that Chelsea remained interested in the Spaniard, who made the move to Brighton from Barcelona during the summer transfer window. In the time since he has started every Premier League match, finding the back of the net in the Seagulls recent 4-0 win over Manchester United too.
While his energy and attacking intent have seen him impress on the left-hand side, he has also caught the eye when used as a centre-back, as he has been on a number of occasions, helping to keep clean sheets against Tottenham, Norwich and Wolves in the process, suggesting he could be used as a replacement for Antonio Rudiger on the left side of Tuchel's back three.
“It's strange, I have never played at centre-back before," he told Brighton's official website after the clash with Spurs. "Sometimes I have played there in the last few minutes when we’ve been losing, but I have never started there and one day the gaffer in the training explained to me that he wants me to play there and I said, “yeah, it's good.” Sometimes I'm worried when the team attack because I need to stay at the back.
“The gaffer says it’s a good position for me because with the ball I look for good passes and I help the centre-backs in the build-ups. I like playing there. Sometimes when the team attack I am a little bit worried because I need the stay at the back but it's fun.”
