Manchester United have reached an agreement on individual terms with the representative of centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. However, they still need the final step of negotiating a price with Everton.
Branthwaite (21 years old) is said to be Man United's top target in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first transfer window as a co-owner of the club. The Everton star had a breakthrough season at Goodison Park. The centre-back has become a mainstay in Sean Dyche's defence and has been called up to EURO 2024 with England.
The "Red Devils" admire Branthwaite's qualities in ball possession, aerial fighting and his good legs. That is why the Old Trafford team is willing to pay the 21-year-old a salary of 150,000 to 160,000 pounds per week.
Everton are demanding a £70m fee for Branthwaite, who signed from Carlisle United as a promising teenager in January 2020. According to British media, The Toffees want to keep Branthwaite this summer and will only change their stance if they receive an attractive offer.
However, Everton are under pressure to stabilize their finances before June 30, the deadline for complying with the Premier League's Sustainability and Profit rules for the 2023-2024 season. Last season, they were deducted points twice for failing to meet the financial requirements of the tournament.
The Toffees will also have to pay Carlisle 15% of any fees they receive from selling Branthwaite. In addition to Everton's centre-back, Man United are also interested in Lille's Leny Yoro.
Yoro (19 years old) has been sought after by Real Madrid in recent months and even attended the Champions League final at Wembley. However, Los Blancos have not yet reached an official agreement with Lille. In that context, Man United and Liverpool are ready to jump in whenever they have the chance.
Man United are focusing on the transfer stage after determining the future of coach Erik ten Hag. The Dutch strategist has just had a terrible season when he could only help the "Red Devils" finish 8th in the Premier League.
They were also eliminated early in the Champions League in the group stage. Therefore, before the end of the 2023-2024 campaign, information about Ten Hag's dismissal had appeared simultaneously.
The turning point came when Man United surprisingly beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final to save the season. After that, the "Red Devils" leadership conducted a season and future assessment of Ten Hag for more than 2 weeks.
Man United's leadership met with many candidates during the review process, but in the end still decided to keep Ten Hag.
