Manchester City have learned how much they may need to pay to sign Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, with three other clubs in the race.
City have a pool of brilliant defenders at the Etihad Stadium at the moment.
Pep Guardiola has solid options in the form of Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol.
But City are seemingly ready to try and strengthen in the summer, and the club are apparently keen on Everton defender Branthwaite.
But City are not alone in the race…
Manchester City in four-team chase for Jarrad Branthwaite as £60m asking price shared
This season, Branthwaite has been a regular for Everton.
After spending last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, he has made 31 appearances across all competitions this term, and come in for a lot of praise for his performances.
Branthwaite, 21, has showcased great defending but also fantastic ball-playing, which is obviously something Pep greatly values in his defenders.
City are apparently in the hunt for Branthwaite, but theDaily Mail have reported that Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all eyeing him too.
Real Madrid, of course, signed one top young English player last summer in the form of Jude Bellingham, and may hope that his presence will help them lure the Toffees ace.
Supposedly it could now take north £60 million to sign him. This new valuation comes after claims earlier in the season that Everton wanted closer to £100 million.
Branthwaite would be a top signing
So Branthwaite should cost over £60 million, and that is probably understandable at this point.
He is another top young English prospect, who has already had comparisons to current City star John Stones. And Micah Richards labelled him ‘exceptional’ earlier this season.
He is the kind of ball-playing centre-half Guardiola adores, and the £35,000-a-week youngster could be a great addition to City’s squad and potentially be at the Etihad for many years.
But the competition is very strong.
As far ahead of United as City are right now, the Red Devils can probably offer more game time, with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans not long-term options, and Lisandro Martinez injury-prone.
But we will see what City can do this summer. Pep may well order a strong pursuit of a player who could potentially become a fixture in the team’s backline for years to come.