Both Manchester clubs in mix for £50m Premier Legaue defender

Premier League elite circle Brentford standout

The churn of the summer market is already beginning to reveal its shape. According to reporting from TeamTalk, Manchester United have joined Manchester City and Newcastle United in tracking Brentford right back Michael Kayode, a 21 year old whose rapid rise has turned routine scouting into sustained pursuit. This is not speculative interest. Senior figures at both United and Newcastle have stepped up their assessments, placing Kayode firmly among the most watched defensive profiles ahead of the window.

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City were first to move publicly. As TeamTalk revealed in January, the champions added Kayode to a defensive shortlist led by Tino Livramento. That context matters. Kayode was not a compromise option, but one of “the most exciting young full backs in the division”, a description that has aged quickly.

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Manchester clubs shape thinking

United’s involvement adds weight. With Diogo Dalot linked to a possible summer departure, the club are weighing long term solutions rather than short term cover. Newcastle’s interest is shaped by their own uncertainty around Livramento, whose situation remains unresolved. The result is a convergence of elite needs around a single player.

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Sources close to Kayode have confirmed to TeamTalk that interest has “intensified” in recent weeks, a word that reflects both volume and seriousness. This is no longer background noise.

Brentford stance hardens

Brentford know what they have. Having paid around £15 million to sign Kayode from Fiorentina, they now value him well north of £50 million. Insiders insist there is no pressure to sell and that only a major offer would force reconsideration. That confidence is bolstered by wider attention. Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich have all watched Kayode live within the last month.

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Despite that glare, the player remains grounded. Those close to him stress he is not pushing for a move and is enjoying his football under Keith Andrews, focused on development rather than destination.

Summer decision looms

With elite clubs circling and valuations rising, Kayode is shaping the defensive market. Brentford may yet face a battle to keep him, but they are ready for it.

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For Manchester United supporters, this report taps into a familiar tension. There is excitement at being linked with a young, upwardly mobile defender, but also caution born of recent recruitment cycles. Fans see logic in targeting a right back if Dalot moves on. Kayode’s athleticism and ceiling feel aligned with a long term rebuild rather than a patch.

For Manchester City supporters, the tone is different. There is trust in process. City’s interest reads as endorsement rather than desperation. If Kayode sits behind Livramento on the list, that alone tells fans the club are thinking two or three windows ahead. The price tag does not shock either fanbase. £50 million is the going rate for potential married to Premier League proof.

Both sets of supporters recognise the same truth. Brentford have become a proving ground, and Kayode looks ready for the next step. Whether either Manchester club acts will say much about their respective strategies this summer.