Manchester City have joined Arsenal, Tottenham and Bayern Munich in pursuing Middlesbrough fullback Djed Spence, according to reports in the German media.

The 21-year-old is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest and, despite his impressive performances for the Midlands club, Boro are expected to sell the defender for between €12m (£10m) and €15m (£12.5m) when he returns to the Riverside Stadium this summer.

After watching Spence play for Forest in their FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal back in January, ex-Gunners striker Ian Wright revealed he had talked to the right-back, telling him that, with his ability, he should be playing in the top flight:

“I said that to him at the end of that game and all his family were there, and they were saying ‘yes! Listen, man! Listen!’ I said to him, in all seriousness, ‘that level we saw there? You should be in the Premier League’. Simple as that.”

City have been short of options on the right-hand side of defence this season. Joao Cancelo has more often than not played at left-back, meaning John Stones has had to cover for Kyle Walker on occasion.

Spence’s potential and the fact that he is homegrown may have attracted City’s scouts, so we shall see if he ends up moving to the Etihad.