City Identify £15m Rated Brazilian Defender As Possible Maguire Alternative

Manchester City are scouting Cruzeiro centre-back Murilo Cerqueira, according to reports in the UK.

The Brazilian is believed to be a cheaper alternative to Leicester City’s Harry Maguire, who is claimed to be the club’s priority target to replace Vincent Kompany.

Murilo could be signed for as little as £15m this summer, while Maguire could fetch a sum as high as £75m.

The England international is also being closely tracked by Manchester United and the Foxes are likely hoping for a bidding war between the city rivals.

Murilo, meanwhile, is also attracting interest from the likes of Bayern Munich, Monaco and Atletico Madrid, but would present a more economical outlay.

At 22 years of age, he has time on his side to develop his game, but the Brazilian is believed to be ready for the Premier League despite only having made 36 senior appearances for Cruzeiro.

He made his debut for Brazil’s Under 23s earlier this month and is currently playing at the Toulon tournament in France.