From Fabrizio Romano: Everton defender set to join Manchester City – Two ‘top clubs’ beaten to signing

Manchester City have beaten competition from two other ‘top English clubs’ to secure the signing of Everton youth full-back Jayden Lienou, according to Fabrizio Romano.

It is the second youth left-back signing secured by Manchester City in a matter of days, with reports elsewhere indicating significant progress in the club’s interest in New York City FC talent Christian McFarlane of England’s youth international set-up.

Officials within the Premier League champions are continuous in their pursuit of the globe’s next best names, developing teenagers through their wide-ranging portfolio of clubs owned as part of the City Football Group.

This season alone has seen a whole host of highly-rated names sent out on developmental season-long loans with various clubs, perhaps most notably Girona and their use of Yan Couto and Savio.

Now, Manchester City have turned more closer to home, securing the signature of one of Everton’s youth talents to integrate him into their own Academy system with the ultimate aim of bringing him into their first-team squad in future.

That is according to the information of transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who reveals that the Premier League champions have now ‘signed all documents’ to bring in 15-year-old Welsh left-back Jayden Lienou from Everton.

It is further detailed by Romano that the 2008-born full-back joins the Etihad Stadium project as part of the club’s ‘long-term strategy’ to sign the ‘best talents’ from across the game, whilst beating ‘two English top clubs’ in the process of signing Lienou.

Lienou may not be the only player being discussed by Manchester City currently plying his trade at Goodison Park, with a recent line of reporting suggesting that Etihad officials were monitoring first-team star Jarrad Branthwaite with interest.

The 21-year-old Carlisle-born defender is the subject of widespread interest from across Europe, with Manchester City expected to be forced into a hotly-contested transfer battle, should they wish to formalise their interest in the player any time soon.

City fans will fondly remember the club’s successful pursuit of John Stones from Everton during the summer transfer window of 2016, in a £50 million deal that would go on to prove one of the club’s finest pieces of business during the first campaign of Pep Guardiola’s reign.