Man City set sights on Everton star with John Stones ‘unhappy’- sources

Man City are keeping close tabs on the situation of Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton ahead of a possible summer move, sources have told Football Insider.

Sources say City could make a surprise move to sign the 21-year-old if one of their current centre-backs leaves.

Everton want to hold on to their star defender for another season, with their preference to sell other first-team stars amid the threat of further financial issues.

Man City weigh up transfer move to sign Jarrad Branthwaite

Everton were handed two point deductions, with a total of eight points taken, in the season just passed, as a result of their breaches of profit and sustainability rules.

With the club desperate to avoid further infringements, they will look to sell this summer.

With the sale of a star player on the cards, and while they are keen for the centre-back to remain, they could be forced to let him go as the 30 June deadline for their accounts closes in.

Amadou Onana has also been linked with a move away, with Football Insider reporting that the Toffees would accept a “significant” offer for his services.

Having arrived at Goodison Park from Carlisle United for just £1million in 2020, Branthwaite honed his skills on loan with PSV in the 2022-23 season before taking the step into Sean Dyche’s first team.

In the just-completed season, he made 41 appearances, earning him his first England call-up for the March internationals, and he has since been named in the preliminary squad for Euro 2024.

Branthwaite is seen as an option to replace Stones should he leave Man City this summer, with his performances at Goodison Park catching the eye of Pep Guardiola.

In other news, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been tipped for a move to Newcastle.