Etihad Stadium transfer bosses have reportedly added Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite onto their list of potential transfer targets for the next calendar year.
It is the latest name to be added to an ever-growing list of European stars linked with moves to the Premier League champions in 2025, as the next phase of Pep Guardiola’s squad is eyed by Manchester City officials.
Positions across the pitch are currently being assessed by sporting director Txiki Begiristain, alongside conversations with his incoming replacement Hugo Viana, and whether they require investment in either the January or summer markets next year.
One of the key areas for discussion is the centre of Pep Guardiola’s midfield, with injuries hampering the Catalan’s selection options this season, and uncertainty continuing to loom over a number of long-standing servants at the club.
But attention isn’t just restricted to the midfield roles, with the latest information arriving on the scene offering some light on both the striker role at Manchester City amid a lack of support for Erling Haaland, and the central defensive positions.
According to the information of The Telegraph, there is a desire within City to ‘provide greater support’ around Haaland in the lone striker role, and it is pointed out that the club have a buyback option on Ipswich Town forward, Liam Delap – who is excelling this season.
The defensive areas of the Manchester City line-up are also seemingly under the microscope, with the report revealing that Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is thought to be on the Premier League champions’ radar.
On the subject of Delap, who rose through the age groups in Manchester City’s Academy system after joining from Derby earlier in his young career, the striker was sold to Ipswich last summer for an initial £15 million with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons.
Reports at the time of the deal being confirmed also stated that the Premier League champions had retained a 20 per cent sell-on clause and buy-back option in the agreement, which ensures that Manchester City remain attentive to his development in the game.
As for Branthwaite, who has battled with injury problems in recent months, the young defender admitted to admiring the play-style and career of John Stones during an interview in 2023 as he said, “(I look up to) John Stones. He looks good on the ball and defensively.”
It remains to be seen just how much Everton could demand for Branthwaite, having rebuffed attempts from Manchester United to sign the player last summer with the Old Trafford club’s final bid understood to be worth close to £50 million.
