July 31st 2024.
According to recent reports, Jarrad Branthwaite is at the top of Manchester United's wishlist. This has been a long-standing interest for the club, with manager Erik ten Hag looking to bolster their defense after securing the signing of Leny Yoro for a whopping £52million. Other players like Matthijs de Ligt and Antonio Silva have also been linked, but it seems Branthwaite is the one they have their sights set on.
However, Everton boss Sean Dyche has made it clear that the recent signing of Jake O'Brien from Lyon will not lead to the departure of Branthwaite to Manchester United. Despite the 22-year-old's refusal to sign a new contract with Everton and reportedly agreeing on personal terms with the Red Devils, the Toffees are standing firm on their valuation of £70m for the English international. They have even rejected a previous bid of £50m for Branthwaite, who narrowly missed out on a spot in the Euro 2024 squad.
Even with the addition of O'Brien, Dyche is adamant that Branthwaite will not be leaving Goodison Park this summer. In an interview with Sky Sports, the manager jokingly dismissed any connection between O'Brien's signing and Branthwaite's future, saying, "No way! You're kidding me! I'm very surprised you've put two and two together at Everton Football Club. It's nothing to do with that. It's just to do with trying to model the club with the finances available."
Dyche further explained that the club is looking to bring in younger players who can develop and contribute both on and off the pitch. He acknowledged the challenges of finding such players and stated that they believe they have a few in their current squad. He also clarified that they have made it clear to Branthwaite that there is no intention to sell him, but the media tends to speculate and create rumors.
Everton's £50m sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa has put them in a comfortable financial position, making it unlikely that they will have to sell Branthwaite to United. The Red Devils will likely have to break the bank if they want to secure the services of the highly-rated defender. Meanwhile, O'Brien's signing for £17m from Lyon is another step towards Everton's goal of building a strong and sustainable team. The 23-year-old Irish international had left Crystal Palace just a year ago.
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