Excellent: As negotiations with Everton continue, Manchester City is interested in signing a 21-year-old player instead of Declan Rice.

‘Excellent’: Manchester City now want to sign 21-year-old compared to Declan Rice, amid reports

Manchester City now want to sign Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton – a player who has been compared to Declan Rice.

That is according to the Daily Mail.

So, what has been written about Manchester City and Jarrad Branthwaite? Let’s take a look…

What’s the story?

Well, it is said that Pep Guardiola is taking a look at the England Under-21 international after his strong start to the 2023/24 campaign with Everton.

Manchester United are also keen to sign Branthwaite after he started – and shone in – five of Everton’s first eight Premier League games so far this season.

While the Toffees have struggled as a unit under Sean Dyche, the 21-year-old has impressed on a personal level at centre-back.

The Daily Mail add that Everton are trying to tie Branthwaite down to a new contract, but it is said that these discussions are unlikely to keep him at Goodison Park if a tempting opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League presents itself.

Manchester City could sign another Declan Rice in Jarrad Branthwaite

As aforesaid, Branthwaite has been compared to Arsenal No.41 Rice, who started his career as a centre-back at West Ham before moving into midfield, something the Everton wonderkid has also experienced so far in his short career.

It was Chris Beech – Manager of Carlisle United at the time – who made the claim about the Manchester City target, as he emerged from the League One side’s academy.

As quoted by The News and Star, the 49-year-old said: “Branthwaite was brilliant. I had massive information on the way he played for Carlisle in the FA Youth Cup at Fleetwood. I’m a Fleetwood man, and he was excellent as a midfield player, and has the skill sets to play both roles.

“I look at people like Declan Rice, and Michael Carrick, who’ve played a little bit of both. Jarrad has the capabilities of doing both.”

Rice and Carrick are two of the best to have played for England, so it speaks volumes that Branthwaite is already being compared to these types of players.

Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Branthwaite will only have 12 months remaining on his contract at the end of the season.