Manchester United are determined to secure the services of Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton, planning a second bid after their initial offer was turned down. The club, led by manager Erik ten Hag, is preparing an improved proposal following Everton’s rejection of an initial £34 million bid plus £8 million in add-ons, reported by Mail Online. Everton, however, values the 21-year-old defender closer to £75 million and is reluctant to sell a player they see as integral to their plans.
Branthwaite, who narrowly missed out on a spot in England’s Euro 2024 squad, impressed during his 41 appearances under Sean Dyche, despite Everton facing challenges such as point deductions. The club has dealt with financial difficulties recently, exacerbated by owner Farhad Moshiri agreeing to sell his stake to Roma owner Dan Friedkin. Despite these challenges, Everton is firm on not compromising on Branthwaite’s valuation.
Manchester United, known for their record-breaking £80 million acquisition of Harry Maguire in 2019, are considering their options carefully, especially with defensive issues and Raphael Varane’s departure from the club. Alongside pursuing Branthwaite, United has been linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and Jeremie Frimpong, Wolves’ Joao Gomes and Pedro Neto, and Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen as part of a potential squad overhaul.
Despite rumors suggesting personal terms with Branthwaite have been agreed upon, Everton remains steadfast in their stance against a cut-price deal. The negotiation remains ongoing as Manchester United evaluates their next move in securing the talented young defender.
—
This version retains the essence of the original while presenting it in a more readable and engaging format suitable for a blog post.
