Manchester United will be in the market for at least one centre back this summer as Ineos look to make big changes.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co have taken control of football operations at United and their impact has already been clear.
Jason Wilcox has already started work as United’s new technical director and Omar Berrada is coming in as CEO this summer.
Dan Ashworth – Newcastle United’s sporting director – shouldn’t be too far behind having been targeted by Ineos.
Ratcliffe and co are looking for any way to improve United’s fortunes and it’s fair to say that boss Erik ten Hag isn’t safe.
United players are no doubt feeling the pressure too and if any area of the side is going to change, it may well be the heart of defence.
Manchester United want Jarrad Branthwaite
Harry Maguire has saved his United career in style but it’s unclear what the future holds for many of United’s other centre backs.
Raphael Varane has already confirmed his departure whilst Jonny Evans is out of contract this summer.
Victor Lindelof’s future is unclear and Lisandro Martinez has suffered injury problem after injury problem this season.
That leaves United needing to bring in new faces at the back and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite continues to be heavily linked.
The Daily Mail now claim that United are ‘ready’ to offer £55million to sign Branthwaite this summer.
Everton don’t want to lose their star centre back but with their takeover stalling, Branthwaite may need to be sold in order to raise funds.
The Toffees want £80million for Branthwaite but United seem ready to test their resolve by slapping £55million on the table.
Whether the Toffees can be forced into selling is another matter, especially at £25million less than their asking price, but Ineos are very keen.
Branthwaite fits exactly what Ineos want in terms of landing young and homegrown players.
Branthwaite investment presents Lisandro Martinez conundrum
The 21-year-old is a top talent and he could be part of the United side for a long, long time.
This would be an interesting investment though, given the presence of Martinez.
The Argentinian is a top-quality defender when fit and available but he has managed just seven Premier League starts this season.
That has left United with a need for another left-footed centre back, but spending £55million – or more – one one is interesting.
We don’t often see two left-footed centre backs together, whereas nobody really bats an eyelid at two right-footers together.
Maybe United believe that Branthwaite and Martinez can be a partnership, but there is a real prospect of one of them being left out.
United certainly needed another option in order to help deal with Martinez’s injury but spending so much on another left-footer is certainly interesting for the future of United’s back line.
