Man City manager Guardiola contemplating the possibility of signing £80m-rated player Erik Ten Hag wants at Old Trafford

The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, is currently  the possibility contemplatingAccording to a report, Pep Guardiola has developed an interest in a specific Manchester United target.

Over the years, both Manchester clubs have pursued the same player on numerous occasions.

At the time, Manchester United was celebrated for their success in the pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo, Alexis Sanchez, Fred, and Harry Maguire, who were widely rumoured to be targets of Manchester City. However, the blue side of the city ultimately emerged victorious in all of these cases.

Maguire’s tenure at the club has been essentially disastrous, while Ronaldo, Sanchez, and Fred all had underwhelming periods at Old Trafford.

In contrast, Manchester City are known for their exceptional business acumen. Given Pep Guardiola’s prominence at the Etihad Stadium, they would prefer to honour him with his desired acquisitions following his four consecutive Premier League championships.

Although the Red Devils are no longer the dominant force they once were, they continue to be considered the largest club in the country in the realm of English football.

Consequently, it appears that a number of players continue to be drawn to the prospect of playing for one of the most esteemed clubs in the world of football solely on the premise of their status.

However, United have every cause to be concerned if City, their cross-town rivals, are included in their pursuit of a player, as they are the gold standard in English football.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, is reportedly contemplating a transfer for Jarrad Branthwaite, a player that Erik ten Hag would like Manchester United to sign in the summer. This is despite the possibility that they successfully complete the prospective acquisition of Matthijs de Ligt, according to a report by The Sun.

Guardiola is reputed to be “impressed” by Branthwaite’s defensive capabilities and his ability to operate from the back.

The report asserts that the 22-year-old’s current valuation is £80 million, a claim that was made in June. Everton internally considers him to be a defender who should command similar fees to the likes of Josko Gvardiol, who was signed by Manchester City for £77.6 million, the £80 million man (BBC Sport), Harry Maguire, and Wesley Fofana, who Chelsea paid £75 million (Sky Sports) for in 2022.

Unless Manchester City intend to transfer one of their defenders, it is unclear why Pep Guardiola is interested in Branthwaite, despite his exceptional abilities as a center-back.

The rationale for contemplating the Englishman as a potential signing would be compelling if the intention at the Etihad Stadium was to release an injury-prone center-back such as John Stones.

The notion of including the youngster in their roster appears superfluous, as Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and Josko Gvardiol are not associated with departures during the summer.

Particularly when the Sky Blues are requested to allocate an exorbitant £80 million to resolve an issue within the squad that is not even remotely a priority.