Manchester City are scouting the tallest outfield player in Britain with a view to signing him, according to reports.
Kyle Hudlin stands six foot and nine inches tall and plies his trade in the National League - the fifth tier of English football - for Solihull Moors.
Hudlin joined the club from 11th-tier Solihull United last year and his impressive rise up the non-league ranks is understood to have attracted attention from Manchester City as well as Championship duo Cardiff City and Middlesbrough.
The striker scored nine goals in 35 National League appearances last season and the race for his services is growing more competitive.
That's according to The Athletic , which claims the Sky Blues initially monitored Hudlin via video clips before watching him in-person during Moors' pre-season friendly versus Notts County on Saturday, which ended 2-2.
The report adds City are keen to sign young players with homegrown status with a view to loaning them out to aid their development, with Hudlin fitting the bill.
Pep Guardiola's side spent £100million to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa earlier this month, but most of their signings this window have bolstered the Under-23s and academy ranks.
City landed Brazilian prospect Kayky from Fluminense for £8.6million and the 18-year-old forward will join up with the Premier League champions in January.
K luiverth Aguilar and Dario Sarmiento arrived from Alianza Lima and Estudiantes respectively and both have departed on loan.
City remain linked with another marquee signing and are reportedly weighing up a second approach for Harry Kane after their initial £100million proposal was rejected by Tottenham.
Manager Guardiola has faced indirect criticism from rival Jurgen Klopp over his side's spending, but he defended City's outlay during a recent press conference.
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"We have limits because of Financial Fair Play," said the Spaniard. "We are on the same page like everyone.
"After that, each club decides what they want to do. Every season we have passed the controls that are there for everyone. If we are wrong, prove it.
"I have said before, there are owners who want the benefits for themselves. Our owners don't want to lose money but if they can spend, they will.
"In the past, [Manchester] United won a lot of titles because they spent more money than the other clubs. You remember that? They spent more than Manchester City because we couldn't do it.
"Before it was one club, or two, or two and a half. Then other clubs arrived - Chelsea with [Roman] Abramovich, us with Sheikh Mansour. They want to be in this world. What is the problem?"
