Manchester United have made an opening bid to sign Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
The Toffees could be forced into selling one or two players this month to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Branthwaite is a bankable asset.
The 21-year-old defender enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Sean Dyche last season, and popular pundits such as Micah Richards hailed him as a “magnificent” player.
The Red Devils have been linked with a move for Branthwaite through the summer, and it seems they have now made a formal offer to sign him.
There are suggestions that Branthwaite could be open to leaving Goodison Park, but Everton are demanding a fee of around £70 million for their star defender.
Several sources have indicated to Sky Sports the Red Devils have made a bid of around £45m, which is nowhere near Everton’s valuation of the player. The offer is expected to be rejected.
The Red Devils have already agreed personal terms with the Toffees defender.
Everton must stay resolute in their transfer demands
Branthwaite has a long-term contract at Goodison Park and the Toffees do not want to sell him. They would probably be more open to offers for players such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Amadou Onana, but Branthwaite’s case is different.
The defender might be tempted to join Old Trafford, where he can increase his wages to four or five times, but Everton hold all the aces at the moment.
United have paid ridiculous money for players such as Harry Maguire, Antony, and Casemiro over the years, and Everton can cite those examples while negotiating a deal for Branthwaite.
The Toffees are likely to reject United’s opening bid, and that’s fair. What remains to be seen is how far United is ready to go to sign the Toffees defender.
