Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is yet to sign a new contract with the Toffees and could be the subject of a transfer battle between Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Despite being linked to a number of clubs in the summer of 2024, the centre-back remained at Goodison Park, with no team matching Everton's £75m valuation of the English defender.
Branthwaite has been part of an Everton defence that has kept both Chelsea and Arsenal at bay in recent weeks in the Premier League and has helped the Toffees keep seven clean sheets, the joint most in the division.
The 22-year-old has just over two years left on his current contract, and signing the defender to a new deal would represent a significant boost for the club's new owners the Friedkin Group.
However, the Daily Mail report that while he would be willing to sign a new deal, an agreement has not been reached and it could open the doors to a potential summer departure to the likes of Manchester United, though the Red Devils would face competition from other league rivals.
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Man United interest
United have long been credited with an interest in the defender and were rumoured to have been willing to offer £160,000-a-week to him in the summer of 2024.
This figure would have represented a sizeable increase in wages for Branthwaite considering he is said to be among Everton's lower earners.
It is easy to see how Branthwaite would fit into Ruben Amorim's back three, with the defender well suited to playing on the left of defence.
The centre-back is not only physically imposing, but he is also adept at playing out from the backline, so he could potentially represent an upgrade on the likes of Lisandro Martinez.
United are currently in 14th place with 22 points and have struggled all season against teams that have been able to outmatch them physically, so perhaps signing Branthwaite would allow Amorim to better implement his style of play.
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Could United lose out on Branthwaite?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has implemented several controversial cost-cutting measures during his tenure as United co-owner, and it is reported that the Red Devils refused to budge from their £50m valuation of the defender in the previous summer.
With Amorim's side also under pressure to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, the Portuguese boss faces the prospect of other clubs taking advantage.
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are in desperate need of reinforcement in the upcoming transfer windows, and the champions would have little issue with Everton's financial demands.
Liverpool have also been linked with the defender in the past, but while Branthwaite could be seen as the long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk, it is difficult to see the Toffees selling to their fiercest rivals.
Branthwaite is almost certain to be the subject of fresh inquiries in the summer of 2025, and if United wish to avoid being beaten to his signature, then they will have to find ways of raising funds.
Lewis Nolan
