Manchester United expect to complete the signing of £75million-rated Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite by the end of June.
Branthwaite, 21, sits top of United's list of centre-back targets going into the summer transfer window and with Everton still in financial jeopardy, Old Trafford chiefs are confident that a deal can be struck. That's firstly because of the highly-rated defender being left out of England's squad for Euro 2024, having made his debut for the Three Lions in Monday's 3-0 friendly win against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The FA have blocked clubs, agents and players from making contact regarding transfers while players are away on England duty, so there'd have been an issue if Branthwaite had been called up by Gareth Southgate. Secondly, Everton have until June 30 to ensure that they stay in line with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
A big-money departure would go a long way towards the Toffees avoiding another points deduction, with Branthwaite - under contract until 2027 - considered their most sellable asset. And while the Toffees are hoping to keep hold of Branthwaite, and insist only a mega offer will see him sold, they're in a race against the clock.
Meanwhile, United are looking at alternative targets should Branthwaite prove too expensive amid their own financial concerns. Crystal Palace star Marc Geuhi, Wolves captain Max Kilman, Juventus' Gleison Bremer and Bayer Leverkusen ace Edmond Tapsoba have all been linked with moves to Old Trafford. Red Devils sources also insist that they won't be held to ransom over Branthwaite.
Everton will notably have to pay League Two side Carlisle United 15 per cent of any fee they receive for the centre-back thanks to a sell-on clause which was agreed between the two clubs when he swapped Cumbria for Merseyside in January 2020. A place in Southgate's squad for the European Championship would've increased Branthwaite's stock further, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher among those to criticise his omission.
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"Lots of bigger names than Jarrad Branthwaite have missed out on the England squad, but he should've been picked to go to Euro 2024," Carragher posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "He's England's present and future."
Explaining his unpopular decision to leave Branthwaite at home, Southgate told a press conference: "It's a bit early for Jarrad. He has had a fabulous season, it was good to get him on the pitch the other night.
"But of course, in an ideal world, you'd like that balance of left-footers. For him to be in ahead of the others, I don't think it would have been the right call at this stage. At left-back, that's why we've taken what I think is a calculated risk with Luke Shaw, one which I think is worth taking."
The summer transfer window officially opens next Friday, June 14.
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