Updated Manchester United have made a move for Jarrad Branthwaite, with Everton reportedly rejecting a derisory opening offer of just £35m, with a further £8m in add-ons.
According to an initial report by Mail Sport, the Red Devils were preparing a bid after the Blues placed a £70m price tag around the 21-year-old’s neck and other sources corroborate that the two clubs are now in talks.
The likes of The Express and the Manchester Evening News, meanwhile, claim that Branthwaite has agreed personal terms with United, paving the way for him to move to Old Trafford this summer if Everton accept an offer.
However, Everton’s stance is that the defender isn’t for sale unless they receive an astronomical fee and, at present, the two clubs are miles apart in terms of valuation.
The former Carlisle centre-half had a breakthrough season in the Premier League with the Toffees in 2023-24 following a hugely successful season on loan in the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven the year before and he narrowly missed out on a place in the England squad for Euro 2024.
Branthwaite is regarded as the most promising player in his position in the country for his age and, under different circumstances, Everton might well have been able to demand a record fee for a centre-half.
However, with cash at Goodison Park incredibly tight and the Toffees needing to make sales before the end of the financial year on 30th June, their bargaining posiiton has been weakened considerably.