Jarrad Branthwaite is flavour of the month for Manchester United with the club’s ongoing search for a top centre-back this summer.
The Everton starlet and England U21s international has emerged as a No 1 defensive target for United, as per The Star, and his performances this season have been incredible for such a young player in a side battling for Premier League survival.
Branthwaite, 21, spent last season on loan at Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven. He was highly rated during that stint and played under former United goalscorer Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The decision to move to the Netherlands for a season has paid off spectacularly because he returned to Everton to slot straight into the starting XI. In his first season as a Premier League starter, the Englishman has produced a number of commanding performances and ranks first for interceptions and tackle success rate, and second for blocks and clearances amongst the Everton squad.
From looking at the reports throughout the day, with many focusing on United’s interest in Branthwaite, there appears to be a lot of talk about the defender’s valuation.
Everton want £75m for Jarrad Branthwaite
Reports from The Mirror claim United want to sign Branthwaite for a £25m cut in Everton’s asking price. As, potentially, the buying club that may seem cheeky but let’s not forget that Everton are – yet again – clinging on to their status as a Premier League club.
It has been suggested that United have made Branthwaite their primary target for the summer regardless of developments with Ten Hag’s future. The plan, however, is to do a deal with Everton for £50 million while the selling club are reportedly demanding £75m.
I don’t think Everton have much of a leg to stand on with their financial situation, either.
Everton know they are likely to lose Branthwaite in the summer and with their financial troubles, I am not surprised that we haven’t heard any nonsense about the Toffees attempting to keep their most prized asset for the future. Imagine him playing Championship football next season and impressing in the Premier League this term.
Speaking exclusively to Caught Offside for his Daily Briefing column on Tuesday morning, Fabrizio Romano explained that United have been keeping an eye on Branthwaite’s development for years, but they’ve yet to decide on their primary targets for defence ahead of the summer transfer window. He adds that an asking price from Everton will not be known until May.
Romano said: “I’ve reported before that Manchester United are likely to make a centre-back one of their priorities for the summer, and some fans have been asking me about a new name being linked with the Red Devils.
“Jarrad Branthwaite is looking really impressive with his performances for Everton, and so it’s normal to see stories about his future, but there is nothing final yet from Man United in their decision on who to target in defence.
“Still, United, along with other clubs, have been following and monitoring Branthwaite for years now, so it could be worth keeping an eye on his future as Everton will decide their asking price for the 21-year-old in May, but not before, as nothing is happening now.”
Branthwaite’s ability to competently defend both the box and the wide areas means that he can play as a left or right-sided centre back, and that would be a very useful asset in an Erik ten Hag-inspired side. There is no denying that the young defender has a good degree of positional versatility.
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