There are two ways to look at the reports suggesting that Manchester United submitted a bid for one of their top targets last week.
Was it, as one pundit suggests, a ‘ridiculous, low-ball’ offer? Or, instead, a clever way to kick off discussions, in the knowledge that the player wants the move – personal terms have been agreed already – and that his current club may be forced to sell given their precarious financial situation?
One former Everton midfielder is leaning towards the former.
Manchester United‘s opening bid for Jarrad Branthwaite – depending on who you believe – was either £25 or £35 million lessthan the fee The Toffees are looking for.
“£35 million is a ridiculous offer,” former Scotland international Don Hutchison, who spent two years at Goodison Park from 1998 to 2000, tells ESPN FC. “They are low-balling Everton massively.
“If they are going to sell Branthwaite, they were rumoured to be wanting about £80 million. That will probably come down to £60 million or £70 million. But they want a lot of money for him.”
Manchester United want Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton never had any intention of letting their prized asset go for below the £50 million mark.
But, like with the Mason Mount deal last summer, there is an acceptance that both sides will likely have to make compromises; the eventual sum that takes Branthwaite to Old Trafford probably landing somewhere between the fee Man United want to pay and the fee Everton want to receive.
Branthwaite, young,Premier League proven, physically dominant yet technically gifted, is United’s number one centre-back target for a reason.
And Hutchison, who believes the England international is a greater bet than Bayern Munich benchwarmer Matthis de Ligt, would not be surprised to see the Red Devils throw Harry Maguire into the mix as a sweetener.
Maguire enjoyed one of his better seasons as a Man United player in 2023/24. But with Ineos looking to reduce the age levels of Erik ten Hag’s squad, Branthwaite in and Maguire out would be a deal that makes a lot of sense both from a sporting and a financial perspective.
“I like De Ligt. But, longevity-wise, Branthwaite is the one I would move for,” adds Hutchison, once of Liverpool, West Ham, Sunderland and Sheffield United. “For United, him (Branthwaite) and Lisandro Martinez (would be the starting centre-halves).
“I think they’ll try and move Harry Maguire on.
“(Maguire will be) on big wages. That will be difficult. They might even try and use him in the Branthwaite deal if they tried to bring him in.”
Will United swap Harry Maguire for top target
According to Sky Sports, Man United are now weighing up a follow up bid, albeit one that is still likely to fall well short of Everton’s initial asking price. In what certainly feels like a bit of brinksmanship, the Red Devils are making it clear that – if Sean Dyche’s side are unwilling to budge – they will have no qualms about turning their focus to a number of alternative centre-back options.
Sky throw Lille’s Leny Yoro, Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi into the picture, the latter in particular sharing a few similarities with his fellow Englishman Branthwaite.
“Although Guehi is not a naturally left-footed player – he is more of a right-footed player – he plays that side perfectly,” former Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew tells talkSPORT of the 23-year-old, who started on the left alongside John Stones during England’s 1-0 Euro 2024 victory over Serbia (18 June, 8.50am).
“He can step out, he can make them passes, he can hit a switch of play and obviously he can defend. That’s something that Man United and all the other clubs will be looking at.”