The perennial rumours reverberating around Jarrad Branthwaite’s Everton future as the close season approaches now include the possibility for a swap deal with Harry Maguire coming the other way.
In the latest twist, the always dubious Daily Star have claimed that Manchester United could use Harry Maguire as a makeweight in their bid to sign Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer – with club hoping to offset part of £70m valuation.
United are said to believe Maguire could knock around £20m off Branthwaite’s rumoured price tag, a deal that might appeal to the Red Devils but doesn’t make much sense to the Toffees given Maguire’s hefty wages.
It’s a suggestion that has been mooted before and while this almost certainly Sunday tabloid fodder, stories around the future England star’s future are likely to be a dime a dozen this summer unless or until the Blues are compelled to sell him to ease their financial woes.
The 21-year-old is one of three Everton players who could conceivably command a big fee, with Amadou Onana and Jordan Pickford also among the potential targets for clubs seeking to prey on the instability at Goodison Park.