Manchester United are expected to return with a third bid for Jarrad Branthwaite after Everton rejected a second offer of £45million, plus £5million in add-ons.
Everton had already turned down an initial offer of £35million and are holding out for nearer to £70million, an amount United are unwilling to meet.
However, their second refusal to the bid tabled by United on Monday night is not expected to deter a further approach. The Old Trafford club are prepared to pay the 22-year-old centre back £160,000 a week.
Erik ten Hag, the United manager, has Lisandro Martínez as his left-footed centre half but wants the left-footed Branthwaite to bolster his squad before a pivotal season in which he will attempt to cement his standing after surviving an end-of-season review by the club’s hierarchy.
United have earmarked the centre of their defence as a key area for strengthening this summer and are close to agreeing a £43million deal to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. De Ligt is keen on moving to Old Trafford. The 24-year-old worked with Ten Hag at Ajax and has a close relationship with his fellow Dutchman, who wants to sign a right-sided centre half this summer.
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It is still thought that United are pursuing the 18-year-old Leny Yoro and are involved in a two-way tussle with Real Madrid for the defender.
Reports in France have claimed that United have offered £42million but that the player is holding out to move to Real, his favoured choice. The Lille defender has 12 months left on his current deal and could decide to run down his contract.
United, who will retain Steve McClaren on their coaching staff amid backroom changes this summer, will hope to lower Everton’s fee for Branthwaite. He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Everton in 2023-24, which culminated in him being selected by England for their initial squad for the European Championship. He made his debut in the pre-tournament friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina but was cut from Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad.
Kevin Thelwell, the Everton director of football who is in the final year of his contract, has helped the club to reach a position in which they believe they are compliant with Profitability and Sustainability Rules by selling Lewis Dobbin and Ben Godfrey before the end of June. Dele Alli and André Gomes have also left the club after their contracts expired.
That has enabled Everton to stand firm on their valuation of Branthwaite, which is in line with the £70million Chelsea paid for Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana in August 2022.
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While Thelwell and the manager, Sean Dyche, ideally want to keep Branthwaite, there is an acceptance that the future of Dominic Calvert-Lewin is more complicated. The 27-year-old has entered the final year of his contract and Everton are loath to let him leave on a free transfer.
Calvert-Lewin is not minded to sign a new deal while there is uncertainty at the top of the club, with the Friedkin Group doing due diligence after being granted exclusivity by the owner, Farhad Moshiri, to buy his shareholding. A takeover is not considered to be a formality, with due diligence offering the American group plenty to consider.
