- Man Utd eye Branthwaite approach
- Red Devils not willing to spend enormous sum
- Everton’s valuation remains much higher
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to a report from the Daily Mail, United are preparared to offer £55m ($69m) to sign Branthwaite. That falls short of of the £80m ($100m) price tag that Everton have placed on him, although the Toffees could yet be forced into selling players this summer due to financial concerns amid the proposed takeover stalling. Branthwaite, who has even been linked with Real Madrid, is an obvious way to raise decent cash.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Centre-back has been a crisis position for Manchester United this season, with Jonny Evans racking up more than 25 appearances after arriving on what was intended to be a short-term deal during pre-season and Casemiro often having to fill in recently. Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane have all suffered injury problems at one time or another, with the latter already confirmed to be leaving the club anyway. Willy Kambwala has been promoted to the first-team but has also been injured. Tosin Adarabioyo, set to become a free agent when he leaves Fulham next month, is another potential target.
DID YOU KNOW?
Branthwaite cost Everton just £1m ($1.2m) from Carlisle United in 2020. He was a teenager at the time, but had played 14 times for the club across League Two, the FA Cup and EFL Trophy. Having signed for the Toffees, his top flight breakthrough came on loan at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022-23 campaign.
WHAT NEXT FOR BRANTHWAITE?
Branthwaite’s summer valuation could well be influenced by whether he makes the cut for England at Euro 2024. The 21-year-old was an unused substitute for March’s games but stands a better chance of being picked for the tournament by Gareth Southgate after it was confirmed that squad sizes have been increased from 23 players to 26.
