Manchester United have reportedly decided on their next move in the pursuit of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
It has been widely reported that the Red Devils submitted an initial offer of £35m earlier this month, a proposition that was swiftly rejected by the Toffees.
Branthwaite enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Goodison Park during the 2023-24 term, starting 35 Premier League contests for Sean Dyche's troops as they exceeded expectations.
Despite an eight-point deduction for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR), Everton finished in 13th, avoiding the bottom three by 14 points.
Overall, Branthwaite featured in 41 matches for the Merseysiders across all competitions, quadrupling his goal tally for the club with three strikes in the top flight.
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Man United's next move in Branthwaite pursuit
According to Football Insider, Man United have not been thrown off the scent of Branthwaite despite Everton rejecting an initial offer of £35m plus add-ons for the centre-back.
The report claims that the Red Devils are preparing a fresh bid for the 21-year-old, who has arguably proven that he is ready to play continental football next season.
Looking to raise significant funds to avoid further PSR breaches, Everton are supposedly aiming to pocket £80m from the sale of Branthwaite this summer.
Despite this, Erik ten Hag's side are confident of securing their first-choice defensive target for less as they look to take advantage of the Toffees' precarious financial situation.
It is understood that Branthwaite and Man United have already agreed on personal terms, meaning that a deal could go through relatively quickly once the two clubs shake hands on a transfer fee.
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Big-money sales and centre-back alternatives
With Everton still walking a financial tightrope this summer, Branthwaite is not the only high-profile player who could be departing Goodison Park in the off-season.
Midfielder Amadou Onana is said to be attracting serious interest from Arsenal, with the Gunners looking to bolster their engine room in the knowledge that Thomas Partey could be leaving the Emirates.
As the Toffees continue to be stubborn in negotiations over the future of Branthwaite, Man United might be forced to search for alternatives to the 21-year-old in the near future.
One name being branded about as a potential arrival at Old Trafford is Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt, with the Netherlands international supposedly carrying a £42m price tag.
Carter White
