Manchester United and Manchester City are among a host of other top Premier League clubs interested in Barnsley right-back James Bree
Daily Mirror have claimed that Manchester United and Manchester City are among a host of top Premier League clubs interested in Barnsley right-back James Bree. While other clubs like Tottenham, Southampton and West Ham are also in for the defender, Aston Villa are also primed to make a move for the Englishman.
James Patrick Bree is a 19-year-old right-back who can also put in a decent shift in the midfield as well. The teenager has come up through the ranks at Barnsley and has managed to successfully break into the first-team setup at the club.
The 19-year-old has impressed in the Championship this season, with 17 outings in the league for Barnsley, with a return of 2 assists, which is decent for a right-back. The player is known for his pace and willingness to contribute to the side’s attack as well as being a rock at the back for his side.
His performances have attracted the attention of major English clubs, with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and others all interested in the player with reports that scouts of all the aforementioned top clubs have been monitoring the player’s progress this season.
Aston Villa will make a £4m bid for Barnsley defender James Bree. #avfc #BarnsleyFC #Tykes pic.twitter.com/pjnLirqr7J
— Football League Zone (@TheFLZone) January 9, 2017
However, it is Aston Villa who are touted to be ahead of their competitors from the higher tier of English football. The Lions manager Steve Bruce is reportedly ready to launch a £4 million attempt to snap up Bree, after the boss was impressed with his display against Blackpool in the FA Cup over the weekend.
Although it looks like Villa will not allowed a clear run in on Bree. The likes of Manchester City and Manchester United are looking for additions to the right-back position, and Bree presents a home-grown English option to the Manchester duo.
And with Bree’s Barnsley deal set to expire in six months, the player is unlikely to cost a fortune. Even at the age of 19, Bree has shown glimpses of quality which makes one to believe he would slot straight into a top team’s first-team setup with ease.
Manchester City already signed one Barnsley academy graduate in the summer in John Stones and James Bree could be set to follow in his footsteps and move to Manchester, if not City then United. Or perhaps, any one from a host of other top clubs vying for his signature.