Man united receive massive boost as £70m-rated Premier League star defender still keen on Old Trafford move after Everton stance clear

Man united receive massive boost as £70m-rated Premier League star defender still keen on Old Trafford move after Everton stance clear

Jarrad Branthwaite is a priority target due to Manchester United’s need for a central defender.

Manchester United may consider cheaper alternative Matthijs de Ligt if negotiations with Everton don’t progress.

Jarrad Branthwaite (photo by Getty images)

Manchester United have not given up on a deal for Jarrad Branthwaite, despite an unwillingness to match Everton’s hefty demands.

After not being selected in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, Manchester United lodged a £35 million (plus add-ons) offer for the glittering centre-half – but that was swiftly rejected by his Premier League employers with them valuing him at a much higher price point.

Everton’s resolve has now just been hardened further after they managed to sell centre-back Ben Godfrey to Atalanta for £20m.

This deal should have alleviated any concerns of another points deduction next season for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and allows Sean Dyche’s side to dig their heels in further.

This deal now sends a clear message to United – pay the asking price or move on. It seems highly unlikely, unless Branthwaite pushes for an exit, that Everton will come down to the Reds’ valuation of the defender and they have no reason to do that.

However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and next move will prove how serious they are to sticking to their responsible spending principles.

But the reality is that United may need to accept that Branthwaite is out of their reach this summer