Manchester United are actively seeking to strengthen their center-back lineup this summer. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has indicated that acquiring Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton remains a possibility, with Branthwaite himself open to the move.
Even before Raphael Varane’s exit, Erik ten Hag was keen on enhancing the team’s central defense options due to an injury-ridden season that saw players like Jonny Evans and Willy Kambwala getting more playtime than expected.
Ten Hag, who has renewed his contract until June 2026, aims to establish his dominance in the Premier League after securing two consecutive domestic trophies.
Branthwaite is on Manchester United’s shortlist, as they plan to sign at least one center-back in the upcoming months. Romano mentioned that if Everton lowers their asking price of £70 million, United could proceed with signing Branthwaite. This interest is particularly pressing given the potential departure of another center-back following Varane.
Analyzing Branthwaite’s performance during the 23/24 Premier League season highlights his value. He played 3,420 minutes, the highest in the squad, with a pass success rate of 80.1%, ranking seventh.
His overall rating was 6.90, making him the third-best performer. He averaged 4.5 clearances per game, the second highest in the team, 2.7 aerials won per game (third), 1.9 tackles per game (sixth), and 1.4 interceptions per game (second).
While Manchester United is interested in Branthwaite, they face competition from Liverpool, who are reportedly leading the race to sign the promising center-back.
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