Manchester United are reported to be ready to submit a shock new £60 million bid for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this week.
The Red Devils have already seen two proposals to sign the 21-year-old defender rejected by the Merseyside club who are thought to be holding out for a fee in excess of £70 million. United’s second bid – £45 million plus £5 million in add-ons – was seemingly as high as Old Trafford executives were willing to go given its rejection brought an end to negotiations between the two clubs.
Instead, United turned their attention to Matthijs de Ligt with the Bayern Munich defender keen to reunite with Erik ten Hag in Manchester, following the pair’s successful time together at Ajax.
Negotiations with Bayern proved as difficult as Everton, however, with the German club demanding a base fee of €50 million to sell the Dutch international – a price United believed they could drive down.
Eventually, a compromise was reached and on Saturday, before the Community Shield match against Manchester City, it was revealed that United had agreed a deal worth €45 million plus €5 million in add-ons to sign De Ligt.
It marks the second centre-back to be set to join the ranks at Old Trafford this summer with the club having already agreed a sensational swoop to steal LOSC Lille starlet Leny Yoro from under the noses of Real Madrid. The 18-year-old centre-back is considered a generational talent and Old Trafford officials were reported to have become obsessed with him as a ‘statement signing’ for the new INEOS era.
Unfortunately, disaster struck in Yoro’s second appearance during pre-season with further testing revealing the defender had suffered a metatarsal injury. He would require surgery and is likely to be ruled out for three months.
At the time of this situation, United were locked in talks with Bayern over De Ligt with fears amongst Old Trafford executives that Yoro’s injury would strengthen the German club’s negotiating hand. But Bayern were facing their own pressures to sell De Ligt to help fund further signings and a deal was eventually struck.
The combined initial fees for De Ligt and Yoro are in excess of £90 million; which is what makes Football Insider‘s update that the club are set to bid a further £60 million for Branthwaite so shocking.
The report reveals, “Man United have re-opened talks with Everton over signing Jarrad Branthwaite in a shock twist, sources have told Football Insider. The Premier League giants are submitting a new bid this week of £60million, which is believed to include add-ons.”
Football Insider further reveals that sources close to the deal contend United are “confident that Everton will accept” the proposal, despite it not reaching their initial valuation from earlier in the summer.
The transfer budget has been a source of concern at Old Trafford this summer with the acute pressure of the Premier League’s profits and sustainability rules (PSR) meaning United were reliant on sales to fund additional recruits, after the deals for Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee – signed from Bologna for £35 million to buttress Ten Hag’s forward line.
The notion that the club are willing to sanction a £60 million move to sign another centre-back while there remains a gaping hole in the midfield unit is an unlikely one. But Branthwaite has been a long-term “top target” for INEOS and they have shown repeatedly they are willing to above and beyond to get the player (or executive) they deem crucial to their revolution at Old Trafford.
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