Manchester City join Manchester United in race to sign Everton ace Jarrad Branthwaite
Manchester City and Manchester United want to sign Jarrad Branthwaite in January despite Everton opening talks for a new deal, report the Daily Mail.
Writing on their official website (3 October), the news outlet report that the Red Devils are keen to sign the Toffees academy graduate even if Lisandro Martinez returns from injury before the window with Harry Maguire’s future still up in the air.
But they face competition from city rivals Man City in the race for his signature, and neither club are likely to be deterred by the fact Everton want to offer him a new contract.
“Even if Martinez returns before the end of the year, United could be in the market for a new centre-back in the January transfer window – with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite one of the names on their radar,” they wrote.
“United have a few options in mind, including Antonio Silva of Benfica and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.
“Branthwaite is another having impressed on loan at PSV Eindhoven working with Ruud van Nistelrooy. PSV wanted to buy the 21-year-old in a permanent deal and Manchester City are among the English clubs keeping an eye on him.
“Branthwaite is in talks with Everton over a new contract, but that is unlikely to deter interest in the player if he continues to progress.”
New deal needed
Everton are in trouble if these two teams really make a move for Branthwaite because they’re both playing in the Champions League and in a far better position than we are right now.
As it stands the Toffees are battling against relegation with Branthwaite in the squad, but we have been a far better side since he came into the team ahead of Michael Keane.
His age, Champions League experience and quality on the ball are likely to appeal to the Machester clubs and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he was open to trying to break into their teams.
It would no doubt be an expensive deal because we’d demand a premium for him, but we simply can’t really afford for him to be sold – at least not to a Premier League rival and especially not in the middle of the season.
But if they make a move we may be powerless to resist them with our current financial situation and performances, so we have to just wait and see what happens.
In other Everton news, Henry Winter shares if Dominic Calvert-Lewin is under consideration for England squad.