Throughout this transfer window, Manchester United has been consistently linked with Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. A recent report indicated that United is finally preparing to make a formal bid for the 22-year-old defender.
Erik ten Hag, despite already signing Yoro and completing a deal for Matthijs de Ligt, appears keen to add another central defender to his squad.
The motivation behind this pursuit likely stems from concerns over the injury records of many of United’s current center-backs, including Yoro. According to Football Insider, Manchester United is preparing to offer around £60 million for Branthwaite, a fee that would include various add-ons.
Although Everton values the young English defender at £80 million, United reportedly remains confident that their bid will be accepted. It’s important to note that Everton has already rejected two prior bids from Manchester United for Branthwaite.
Should this transfer materialize, United could face an overcrowded center-back roster. Currently, the squad includes Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, and Matthijs de Ligt.
Adding Branthwaite to this mix would likely force United to offload at least two of these players to avoid an overabundance of options for a single position. Given that Jonny Evans recently extended his contract, it is more probable that either Lindelof or Maguire will be the ones to leave the club.
Despite the potential complications, acquiring Branthwaite would represent a significant investment in one of the Premier League’s most promising young defenders. However, whether this deal will be finalized remains uncertain.
If successful, Manchester United would secure a highly talented player, further strengthening their defensive lineup for the coming seasons. Only time will reveal if Branthwaite will indeed become a Red Devil by the end of this transfer window.
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