Man City consider £7m move for St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma

French teenager Kurt Zouma is reported to be a £7m transfer target for Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini

The St Etienne centre-back has been earmarked as the young pretender who could help City avoid the defensive injury crises that seem to befall them quite regularly while also providing competition for Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastastic.

Zouma, aged 18, was previously linked with a summer move to Liverpool. He is seen as one of French football’s brightest talents.

In the summer, he said: “There was a lot of noise about a transfer for me.

“I can only say one thing – I will be at St Etienne this season, for sure.”

However, with the youngster having established himself as an ever-present in Ligue 1 so far this season, Pellegrini will test St Etienne’s resolve with a January bid.

City scout Gary Worthington watched Zouma play last week and will continue to keep tabs on him ahead of any bid, the Sunday People claims.