AliousManchester United’s primary center-back target for the summer transfer window is Everton’s highly-rated young defender Jarrad Branthwaite. However, if their approach for the 21-year-old fails, the club’s prospective new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has identified an alternative option.
Branthwaite played a pivotal role in Everton’s successful fight against relegation this season, forming an impressive center-back partnership alongside James Tarkowski, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Everton’s backline was the fourth-best in the Premier League, and Branthwaite is expected to continue improving with more experience.
As a result, Everton manager Sean Dyche is unwilling to let Branthwaite leave for anything less than £80 million, according to reports. This valuation is in line with Manchester United’s £80 million outlay for Harry Maguire in 2019, and Everton believes Branthwaite will develop into an even better player.
Branthwaite fits Ratcliffe’s transfer strategy of acquiring the hottest young talents in football, but it remains uncertain whether the Ineos chief is willing to match Everton’s asking price.
If Manchester United fails to secure Branthwaite’s services, Ratcliffe is reportedly eyeing another highly-rated Premier League defender as an alternative. According to Give Me Sport, the Red Devils will prioritize a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi if they miss out on Branthwaite.
The 23-year-old England international Guehi has been impressive for Palace, who enjoyed a strong finish to the season under new manager Oliver Glasner. While Palace is expected to demand £60 million for Guehi, Manchester United is hopeful of securing his services for £50 million, which would be £30 million cheaper than Everton’s valuation of Branthwaite.
The potential savings from signing Guehi over Branthwaite could allow Manchester United to allocate additional funds toward strengthening other areas of their squad, such as midfield, wingers, and a new striker.
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