Everton transfer stance on Branthwaite revealed amid Man Utd interest

Everton have refused to lower their valuation for prized asset Jarrad Branthwaite amid concrete interest from Manchester United.

Everton reporter Chris Beesley claims the club will not be bullied into selling Branthwaite for a bargain despite their financial situation.

Reports had emerged that the Toffees were going to sanction a ‘fire sale’ this summer to raise funds and keep their head above water.

Beesley has rubbished those rumours, branding them as ‘wide of the mark’ despite the uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership.

Everton have a couple of highly sought-after players on their roster, but Branthwaite has emerged as their hottest commodity.

The Englishman has plenty of admirers in the Premier League and abroad, but Man United are looking to beat the competition and secure his signature.

However, both clubs are clashing over the player’s valuation. Everton believe Branthwaite is worth at least £80 million given the current inflated market.

Meanwhile, Man United believe they can snap up the highly rated centre-back for a bargain fee of around £40m, which is way below Everton’s asking price.

Despite their financial situation, Everton are adamant that they are not under pressure to part ways with their high-value assets and will only sanction a sale if their demands are met.

Branthwaite’s valuation skyrocketed in the 2023/24 season after playing a crucial part in helping the Toffees preserve their Premier League status.

The left-footed 21-year-old was a key part of Sean Dyche’s backline that finished the season with the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding 51 goals – only Arsenal (29), Manchester City (34) and Liverpool (41) can boast a lesser tally.

His numbers were also outstanding, winning a remarkable 67% of his ground duels. He was also a dominant force in the air, recording a 68% success rate in aerial duels.

Branthwaite’s impressive form earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad for the upcoming European Championship tournament in Germany.

His contract with the Merseyside club runs until 2027, and they are adamant that Man United will need to fork out a significant fee to snap him up this summer.

Stats from Sofascore.com