OFFICIAL NOW: Jarrad Branthwaite to Man united finally done, agreement reached on a 5yr deal last night, medical schedule to hold in the next 24hrs – Club announcement any time soon
Manchester United are preparing to make a second bid to acquire Jarrad Branthwaite, who has already agreed to contract terms for a potential move to Old Trafford.
Initially, the Red Devils submitted an offer of £43 million for the English central defender, but this was rejected by Everton. According to The Mail, Manchester United will now increase their offer in hopes of persuading the Merseyside club to part with Branthwaite.
The Goodison Park club values Branthwaite at approximately £75 million and, due to financial pressures, may have to consider substantial offers. Football Insider reports that Everton were unimpressed by United’s initial bid for their valuable player.
Last year, Manchester City paid £77.6 million to sign Josko Gvardiol, and Everton reportedly rate Branthwaite even higher than the Croatian defender. Despite their financial issues, Football Insider claims that Everton have no intention of selling the 21-year-old center back and have set an enormous price tag of £90 million.
If Manchester United were to meet this £90 million valuation, Branthwaite would become the most expensive defender in football history. However, United have their own concerns and might shift their focus to other defensive targets if Everton remains firm in their stance (ESPN).
