According to Give Me Sport, Manchester United have retained their interest in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The Premier League club could be making a move to land the youngster at Old Trafford in the 2025 summer window.
Jarrad Branthwaite is already established
Jarrad Branthwaite arrived at Everton in the winter window of 2020 from Carlisle United. In a short time, he not only managed to catch the eyeballs but also established himself as a regular starter. He is bound to have a bright future ahead.
Branthwaite featured in 31 games last season, netting thrice and assisting once. He is averaging 1.4 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, and 3.7 clearances per game (stats via whoscored). Unfortunately, the player has been struggling with injuries throughout the season.
The English centre-back has a big frame, strong physicality, and a long reach. He intercepts the emerging threats well and is a force to reckon with in aerial battles. He maintains a high intensity throughout the 90 minutes but needs to work on his passing range.
Manchester United will have to break the bank
Manchester United brought the likes of Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt in the summer to improve their backline. But it seems that the English club aren’t planning to stop anytime soon. Their continued links with Jarrad Branthwaite cannot be ignored.
Branthwaite is already a tested player in the Premier League and is going to get better and better with time. His arrival will surely boost the Red Devils’ defensive unit. However, the deal seems tough to execute even in the 2025 summer window.
Everton reportedly want somewhere around £80 million to sanction the 22-year-old’s departure. While the youngster has all the qualities to justify his price tag in the future, it makes little sense to spend such a high amount on the centre-back. Instead Manchester United should focus on improving their midfield and the front line.
