Manchester United chasing Everton teenager Jarrad Branthwaite for Erik ten Hag rebuild
Everton teenager Jarrad Branthwaite is being targeted by Manchester United for a summer transfer according to the Daily Mail.
Erik ten Hag is expected to be announced as the new manager at Old Trafford and the report suggests as many at 10 players will be leaving the club in the summer, leaving the Dutchman “plenty of scope” for signings.
The defender has made five appearances for the first team this season and scored once to secure a 1-1 draw at Chelsea in December.
He was handed four Premier League appearances as a 17-year-old by Carlo Ancelotti before going on loan to Blackburn last season in the Championship.
The Daily Mail says of the centre-back: “He is technically very good and at 6ft 5ins has the physical stature United are keen to bring into their squad.”
Building block
Plenty of players have been linked with exits from the club during the struggles this season.
But compared to misfiring senior players that have not been justifying their fees and salaries this would arguably be more of a blow.
The £1million signing from Carlisle United is the kind of low-fee transfer with long-term gains in mind that there hasn’t been enough of in recent years.
In the event that the Toffees are relegated from the Premier League then figures like Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon are going to need to be the building blocks for the club’s future, and should be central even if they stay up.
He only signed a contract extension in December, so will still have three years remaining come the end of the season, with an option for a further year.
At told Everton TV at the time: ““I am buzzing to get the deal done and commit my future to the Club. The way Everton have treated me and the pathway I can see are why I was eager to stay longer.”
Frank Lampard will have to hope that he still feels that way, and that his head won’t be turned by a high profile move to Manchester.
In other Everton news, one Sky Sports pundit is expecting significant numbers to leave the club at the end of the season.
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