Manchester City are lining up a move for Everton goalkeeper Douglas Lukjanciks, according to The Sun.
Despite not having made a first-team appearance yet, the Premier League champions are reportedly “ready” to spend as much as £10m on the shot-stopper.
Lukjanciks is being tipped as a future no.1 and he has already been capped by England at Under 16 and Under 17 level.
Everton are believed to be prepared to let the teenager go as it will help them keep in line with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
Selling Lukjanciks would go down as pure profit on the balance sheet as he is a homegrown player.
Why are City interested in the keeper?
Premier League rules mean that every top-flight club has to have at least eight “homegrown” players in their 25-man first-team squad.
Up until now, City have retained the services of veteran keeper Scott Carson to make up the numbers, but they wouldn’t necessarily have to keep the 38-year-old if they brought in someone like Lukjanciks.
Having a young, promising homegrown talent on the club’s books would probably be more beneficial to the team overall.
Are other clubs interested in Lukjanciks?
The Sun report that there are at least four other clubs pursuing the services of the England youth international, including Tottenham, Aston Villa, Marseille and Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
As Lukjanciks is unlikely to be guaranteed first-team opportunities at any of those teams, it would stand to reason that, if he does choose to leave Everton, he would be most attracted to joining City.
While Ederson may be nailed down as the starter, the potential exits of both Carson (whose contract expires at the end of June) and Stefan Ortega (who is keen on being a no.1 elsewhere) could present more openings for Lukjanciks to play next campaign.
