Manchester United make £50m bid for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite | OneFootball

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have sent a new £50m bid for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

According to Chris Wheeler of the Daily Mail, the official proposal is said to be worth a £45m as a fixed fee, with an additional £5m in potential add-ons.

However, it is understood that Everton are still insisting on receiving their £65/70m valuation of the centre-back, and so there is still no deal between the two sides at this stage.

The bid is United’s second for Branthwaite so far, as they hold keen interest in the player in the aim of strengthening their central defensive options this summer, which is a key priority for Erik ten Hag, along with a defensive midfielder and a striker.

The 6’5″ defender moved to Goodison Park aged 17 in a £1m deal from Carlisle United, then joining Blackburn Rovers and PSV on loan in the following years- the latter of which he particularity impressed at in 21 Eredivisie appearances in the 2022/23 campaign.

This season though, Branthwaite has played a key role under Sean Dyche, starting all but three league fixtures and standing out on the left of James Tarkowski in the heart of defence, whether it be in defending 1v1’s in wide areas, engaging proactively with attackers, or utilising his excellent aerial ability in both boxes – something which saw him score the opener in Everton’s 2-0 home victory in April’s Merseyside Derby.

These performances played a pivotal part in helping The Toffees secure a top flight status for another season and ultimately earned Branthwaite a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad for the Euros this summer.

Branthwaite was eventually dropped from Southgate’s final squad, but will still possibly be set for a career-changing summer ahead, as United look to continue their chase for the Everton man amid the continuation of their mass rebuild under new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Alongside signing on Ten Hag to a new deal, the Red Devils have completely shaken up their recruitment structure behind the scenes ahead of next season, bringing in former Man City executive Omar Berrada as CEO, Jason Wilcox from Southampton as technical director, and ex-Newcastle and Brighton sporting director Dan Ashworth, who will undertake the same role he did at those clubs.

Travis Levison | Get Football