Manchester City register interest in Jarrad Branthwaite as Everton star seeks European football after Thomas Tuchel snub

Jarrad Branthwaite is open to leaving Everton this summer for European football to get a call-up from newly-appointed England manager Thomas Tuchel, as per a new report.

The 22-year-old centre half has attracted strong interest from Manchester United in the last 12 months after impressing at Goodison Park after returning from his latest loan at PSV Eindhoven.

Branthwaite has two years left on his current deal in Merseyside and Everton will name a substantial price tag for one of their best young players should the defender seek a move in the summer transfer window.

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are no strangers to issues in central defence after their shortcomings in the position this season, which have left them fighting to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones have all encountered injuries stretching to weeks if not months at various points of the season, leaving City short of cover in central defence at a time they are also missing Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in midfield.

The January arrivals of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis have alleviated Guardiola’s personnel troubles in defence but Manchester City’s incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is expected to be ruthless in the upcoming transfer window, which is likely to see the Premier League champions make wholesale changes to their ageing, injury-riddled squad.

As per the information of Chris Wheeler writing for Mail Online, Manchester City are interested in signing Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton to bolster their options in central defence at the end of the season.

Branthwaite is understood to be open to leaving the Toffees after a reported conversation with newly-appointed England manager Thomas Tuchel, who cited the young defender’s lack of experience playing in Europe as a reason for his exclusion from the recent England squad.

Everton are expected to have a number of suitors interested in Branthwaite, which will raise his valuation and lead to a tussle between several clubs in England and abroad vying for his signature.