Man United handed major blow as potential summer transfer called off

Man United handed major blow as potential summer transfer called off

Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have received a major transfer blow, it has been claimed.

It was revealed on Saturday that Aston Villa and Everton are finalizing the terms of the agreement for Amadou Onana’s signing.

Jarrad Branthwaite (photo by Getty images)

The Athletic stated that Aston Villa and the 22-year-old had reached an agreement on personal terms for a long-term contract, and that a deal for an estimated £50 million is nearing completion.

Prior to Villa’s Champions League run the following season, Onana had been one of Unai Emery’s top targets, and the player is rumored to be excited about playing for the Spaniard.

Furthermore, the article claims that Everton’s decision to sell Onana may have a significant impact on United’s pursuit of Jarrad Branthwaite.

Everton’s position is said to be that the departure of Onana means they would not sell Branthwaite this summer, barring any hugely substantial offers for the centre-back.

Everton believe Branthwaite, who narrowly missed out on a place in England’s squad for the Euros, is in the same bracket as the likes of Wesley Fofana, Harry Maguire and Josko Gvardiol, all of whom were sold for fees in excess of £75million in recent summers.

The Toffees have already rejected two offers from United for the 22-year-old, with the most recent being worth £45million plus £5m in add-ons.

Elsewhere, United had also been credited with an interest in Onana in the past, along with Arsenal, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

The midfielder had been participating with Belgium in the European Championships this summer, only to be knocked out by France in the round-of-16 stage of the tournament.