Manchester United have held talks with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite over a potential transfer, a reliable journalist has confirmed.
The one-cap England international has been on the Red Devils’ radar for years, dating back to Erik ten Hag’s time at the club. Branthwaite first emerged as a potential option for Man Utd after a successful loan at PSV in the Eredivisie.
He then continued to impress at Everton, leading the Old Trafford club to firm up their interest. He was seen as the club’s prime defensive target in the summer of 2024, but INEOS refused to match the Toffees’ hefty price tag of around €85 million.
After a couple of rejected low-ball bids, Man Utd were forced to abandon their pursuit for the time being. Since then, it hasn’t been easy for the centre-back, who has struggled with repeated injuries. He has only made eight appearances this season.
Despite this, the interest in his services has remained. Last summer, Man Utd and Chelsea were both associated with a potential move, and fresh rumours involving the Red Devils have once again cropped up in recent days.
Branthwaite to Man Utd: The state of play
According to Ben Jacobs, there is substance to these rumours. Man Utd’s interest in the 23-year-old has remained, and he is still seen as a viable transfer target. In fact, there was a meeting with the player’s camp in February, during which it was suggested that he would be “interested” in a move.
“They like Jarrad Branthwaite,” Jacobs told The United Stand. “There’s no denying that, and the advantage of Harry Maguire staying is that they can take their time, whether now or whether a year down the line.
“There was a meeting with the Branthwaite camp in February, I’m told, and it was reiterated from the player’s side that his interest in Manchester United hasn’t gone away.
“Everton feel calm about the situation, and Branthwaite has obviously just been focusing on himself and recovery and [getting] fully fit and all of the things you would expect from a player.
“So, any kind of exit hasn’t really been a topic of conversation because, of course, he had committed to Everton. As a consequence, we’ll see whether it’s this summer or next summer.
“But I think part of the logic in Maguire staying is that Man Utd want to be more like Liverpool in the sense of finding that replacement before the actual replacement goes, so you may start to see in the market more overlap.”
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