Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.
A report from Daily Mail claims that Jarrad Branthwaite has attracted the attention of Premier League giants Manchester United with his performances while on loan at PSV Eindhoven.
Branthwaite was recently called up for England under-21s during the European Championship, and he managed to impress. The 21-year-old up-and-coming defender is highly rated in England, and he could prove to be a quality long-term addition to the Manchester United defence.
Manchester United are likely to get rid of their fringe players this summer and Harry Maguire could leave the club soon. The Red Devils will have to bring in more quality and depth at the back, and the 21-year-old seems like an interesting option. It will be interesting to see if Everton are willing to sell the player permanently this summer.
The 21-year-old has the potential to develop into a key player for the Toffees, and Everton could look to keep him at the club for the near future. Everton need quality defenders at their disposal. If they can promise the talented young defender regular game time next season, Branthwaite could be tempted to stay.
The English defender is unlikely to get regular game time at Old Trafford next season if he moves to Manchester United. The Red Devils already have Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane at their disposal, and two players are likely to be the first-choice centre-backs in the coming season.
Manchester United will hope to compete for the league title next season, and they need top-class players at their disposal. They might not be in a position to experiment with talented young players. So Branthwaite is better off staying at Everton if they can promise him regular football.
The 21-year-old needs to play regularly at this stage of his career, and he cannot afford to sit on the bench at a top club and hurt his development. Meanwhile, Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on the French defender Jean-Clair Todibo as well. As far as Branthwaite and Everton are concerned, the defender has a contract with them until the summer of 2025 and they are likely to demand a premium should Manchester United come calling