Manchester United have no intention to fork out £80 million to sign 21-year-old Everton defensive star Jarrad Branthwaite.
According to a report from Give Me Sport, Manchester United have put together a plan to reinforce their squad ahead of next season. Their focus will be on bolstering the defence, and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is one of the names on their radar.
Branthwaite has been a part of the Everton ranks since 2020. He has established himself in their first team on the back of an impressive loan spell at PSV Eindhoven last season. The youngster is one of the best young defenders in the competition, and his consistent performances have resulted in interest from some of the biggest clubs from across Europe.
Manchester United are one of the clubs that are looking to incorporate the 21-year-old into their squad. While the future of Erik ten Hag is not certain yet, the club have already started working on potential signings for the summer as they prepare for their first window under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
With Raphael Varane leaving the club in the summer, they are looking for a top-quality centre-back who can replace him. The Red Devils prefer signing a young defender who can help them in the long run, and Branthwaite has been on their wishlist for a while now.
Manchester United won’t pay £80 million
The Red Devils have not given up their pursuit of Branthwaite’s signature. They are keen on making a move for him but are unwilling to meet Everton’s demands. The Merseyside club want £80 million for the 21-year-old, but Manchester United have no intention of forking out that big a fee.
They are only willing to pay £55 million for Branthwaite as they look to make the best out of Everton’s financial struggle. The Toffees have already breached the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules twice which have resulted in point deductions.
Everton will be looking for some quick cash to ensure they do not end up breaching the rules again. As a result, they could consider Manchester United’s offer, which is much lower than their £80 million asking price.
