Manchester City are believed to be progressing in talks to sign Brighton defender Marc Cucurella, according to Sportitalia reporter Rudy Galetti.

The Lowdown: Man City register interest in Cucurella

With Nathan Ake’s future with the Premier League champions uncertain after links of a move back to Chelsea, Sky Blues manager Pep Guardiola will be keen to bolster his defensive ranks.

It was reported earlier this week that City are interested in bringing the 23-year-old Spaniard to the Etihad Stadium, but his signature won’t come cheap as he still has a solid four years remaining on his contract with the Seagulls.

The Latest: Man City set on Cucurella deal

Taking to Twitter, Galetti stated that City are now prioritising a deal for Cucurella, with talks currently advancing.

He wrote: “After Sterling's move to Chelsea, Man City are now focused on finalizing the deal for Cucurella. The talks with Brighton - as reported - are progressing well: now #MCFC want to speed things up to close soon.”

The Verdict: Zinchenko replacement?

With the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko uncertain, Guardiola will need to buy a suitable replacement at left-back just in case.

Cucurella could be the perfect man to come in after an excellent debut season in England, not least as the City boss is reportedly a big admirer of the 23-year-old's versatility.

The Spain international, who has been hailed a ‘refreshing’ player by Brighton manager Graham Potter, was a rock at the heart of the Seagulls' backline last season. His averages of 2.7 tackles, 1.9 clearances and 1.2 key passes per league game (via WhoScored) highlight his defensive acumen and also attacking qualities.

Furthermore, his status as a proven Premier League performer (he was Brighton's third-best player last term according to WhoScored) suggests that he could be an ideal successor to Zinchneko if the Ukrainian departs the Etihad.