Everton ‘complicating factor’ raised amid Man United interest in £80m Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton are not budging in their stance on Jarrad Branthwaite and have slapped an £80million price tag on the England defender, according to iNews.
Northern football correspondent Mark Douglas reported [21 May] that the Toffees will rebuff any offer of less than the asking price for the 21-year-old, who United supposedly value in the region of £55m.
The Red Devils are said not to intend to come back in with a higher offer should any initial bid be rejected, although this could be a bluff Everton are willing to call.
Douglas’ report refers to Branthwaite’s contract that he signed last summer which runs until 2027, while he could also command a higher fee when he inevitably becomes a full England international, having been named in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man training squad for Euro 2024.
Will Jarrad Branthwaite be an Everton player next season?
Everton are taking the right approach when it comes to arguably their most prized asset, and the club are in an excellent position with three years left on Branthwaite’s deal.
The defender is playing his best football to date at Goodison Park and looks to be enjoying his football, and naturally the adulation from the faithful on Merseyside.
If he is to make his senior England debut – which is most likely in one of the two friendlies against Bosnia and Iceland in June before departing for Germany – this can certainly add a premium on which will increase the amount of any potential bids.
Sean Dyche knows how key Branthwaite is to his well-drilled and organised team unit, not to mention his potential with many feeling he will go right to the top level.
Branthwaite certainly wouldn’t do his chances of achieving that any harm if he were to stay at Goodison for another year or two, in an environment where he has quickly become a central figure.
In other Everton news, a loanee has sent a farewell message to supporters.
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