Manchester United are now said to be leading the race to sign a player who has been demonstrating a ton of potential this season.
There remains a lot of speculation as to whether Erik ten Hag will be the manager overseeing the club’s transfers this summer, even if the Dutchman doesn’t currently seem close to the sack.
Both Gareth Southgate and Thomas Frank have been touted as candidates to replace the United boss recently, thought to be stemming from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s judgement.
But either way, it’s clear that the club will need some smart investment this summer in order to improve their playing staff for whoever is at the helm.
That being said, Fabrizio Romano has just been providing an update on a player Manchester United are said to be leading the race for ‘The Here We Go Podcast’.
Given the long-term issues suffered by Lisandro Martinez this season, United have looked light at the back, especially at left centre-back.
And that probably explains why the club are now at the front of the queue to sign Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
Fabrizio Romano says Man United are leading the race to sign Jarrad Branthwaite
Speaking on the podcast, Romano said that United were the only club making serious contact right now, even though the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City have also been credited with interest.
He explained: “I think it will be really important to see what happens at Everton between now and the end of the season to understand the final fee [for Branthwaite].
“But the only club at the moment really asking about how is the contract situation, what will be the price and all this stuff, has been Manchester United.
“Because Man United will go for a centre-back and Branthwaite is one of the names they have on the list, not the only one because there is [Jean-Clair] Todibo from Nice, there is Antonio Silva from Benfica, there is [Edmond] Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen.
“But Man United wanted to be informed of the situation of Branthwaite.”
Jarrad Branthwaite is the exact kind of player Manchester United need
Recently described as a ‘monster’ of a player by Ian Wright, Branthwaite really does have everything in his game.
On the whole, Manchester United’s talent identification hasn’t been good enough in recent years, spending big money on the likes of Antony, and thinking too short-term with the investment in Casemiro.
And whilst that is all admittedly easy to say with hindsight, there would be no such concerns with United leading the race for Branthwaite.
At 21-years-old, even the £75m price tag often mentioned should present value, a player clearly destined for the top of the game.
In all honesty it was a shock that Southgate didn’t give the centre-back any minutes over the break for England, a real oversight in the opinion of many.
That being said, that perhaps explains why the club do place one manager ahead of Southgate in their search.
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