MANCHESTER CITY have been tipped to be ready to "open official talks" with Albion over the transfer of Marc Cucurella.

The Spanish defender has been linked with the Premier League champions throughout the summer, with manager Pep Guardiola making him a top target.

A transfer could speed up now as City will sell Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal and will be in need of a replacement which was confirmed by Pep Guardiola.

He said: "I'll say on behalf of the club our gratitude on and off the pitch. It was nice yesterday with Oleks [Zinchencko] because we could say bye properly.

"Unfortunately, Gabi [Gabriel Jesus] and Raheem [Sterling] could not do it but with him we could and he moves on to Arsenal."

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has said that they are ready to open discussions with Albion over a move.

He has also suggested that the defender is close to agreeing terms with the club.

He said: "Manchester City are finally set to open official talks with Brighton for Marc Cucurella, bid is coming.

"Full verbal agreement almost reached on personal terms.

"Cucurella, always been Pep's priority this summer and City will now push after selling Zinchenko."

From Albion's perspective no bid has been made yet, and if it does come The Argus understands it will take a bid in excess of £50million for a deal to happen.

Cucurella is highly rated at the club and won the Albion player of the year award for his performances last season as he impressed in his debut campaign in England.

Albion manager Graham Potter, who is with the defender at the moment during the team's pre-season preparations, has recently praised Cucurella's attitude to focus on the job while all the speculation over his future happens

He told Sky Sports: "He's training really, really well.

"He's a well liked member of the group. Everyone loves him so he's just training and he's just playing as normal.

"I mean, it's part of being a footballer that you have to deal with the speculation that's out there. It's nothing you can control but he's just been a top professional."

Over the last few days, City have been linked with other left-backs as some outlets have reported that they are preprepared to switch their attentions to other targets should they not be able to agree on a deal with Albion.

One option that has been name is Bundesliga side Stuttgart's Borna Sosa, who is believed to have a price-tag of £20m.