Manchester City may have to pay a world record fee for a defender in order to sign Ben Chilwell from Leicester City, according to reports in the English media.

The Citizens are keen on strengthening at left-back with Benjamin Mendy having struggled with knee injuries over the past two seasons.

Leicester will, however, dig their heels in over Chilwell and are said to be holding out for more than the £75m Liverpool paid to sign Virgil van Dijk.

City have shelled out in excess of £50m on defenders before but this would break their own transfer record which they set last summer when they concluded a £60m deal for another Leicester player, Riyad Mahrez.

Chilwell is only 22 years of age, but he has already established himself as Gareth Southgate’s first choice left-back for England.

Manager Pep Guardiola may see the fullback’s potential to improve further, but whether City would sanction such a sizeable bid, it remains to be seen.