Wayne Veysey

Thu 4 July 2024 7:00, UK

Man City have become the latest Premier League club to register their interest in signing Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, sources have told Football Insider.

The Merseyside club’s defender has a growing list of admirers and sources say the defending Premier League champions are willing to spend big to sign him.

Football Insider revealed that Everton have placed a £70million price tag on the England international, which has priced Man United out.

United are unwilling to pay that much, Football Insider has learned, with their initial bid of around £35million plus add-ons being rejected.

However, the two Manchester clubs aren’t the only ones chasing the England international, as Tottenham Hotspur have also long admired him.

Chelsea are another club in the market for a central defender following the departure of Thiago Silva, and Everton’s former chief, Keith Wyness, believes the Blues could also be in the race for Branthwaite.

Man City are searching defensive perfection

Even though Man City secured their fourth-consecutive Premier League title last season, Pep Guardiola is still looking for ways to improve his team ahead of the new campaign.

The Citizens finished two points above Arsenal in the 2023-24 campaign, but it was the Gunners who boasted the best defensive record in the division.

Adding someone of Branthwaite’s quality to the defensive line would bolster Guardiola’s options at the back in an attempt to stay ahead of the chasing pack next season.

One player who could be leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer is 21-year-old Liam Delap, who spent last season on loan at Hull City.

Football Insider revealed that newly promoted Southampton have stepped up their interest in the striker, and Man City are willing to accept a £20million fee.

In other news, Stefan Borson weighs in on rumoured Man City documents regarding FFP.

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