Everton will not be bullied after Manchester United transfer news on Jarrad Branthwaite
Jarrad Branthwaite will be staying put at Everton if Manchester United do not meet the £80million valuation placed on him at Goodison Park, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The Echo reported that claims of a club fire-sale are unfounded and that the Toffees will not be “bullied” into accepting a cut-price fee for Branthwaite, having placed a premium on their star centre-back’s age and ability.
Though the Toffees will need to sell players this summer to avoid another season marred by PSR breaches, they’re pointing to the £75million-plus fees paid for Harry Maguire, Wesley Fofana and Josko Gvardiol in recent years to support their argument that Branthwaite is of a similar calibre.
Branthwaite, 26, also being left-footed gives him a skillset that clubs are often forced to pay a high price for and Everton’s hierarchy will not be swayed by the reported £40million price-tag already mooted.
How much can Everton get for Jarrad Branthwaite?
Everton’s precarious financial situation will see them sell players this summer, having gone through a Premier League season in which eight points were stripped for two separate FFP breaches.
Going into the transfer window, Branthwaite is their highest-value, and therefore more sellable, asset, but the Echo’s report states that the Toffees will do their upmost to ensure his value is maintained by not accepting a sale well below their asking price.
Amadou Onana, Jordan Pickford and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are also likely to draw bids from a host of clubs in the coming weeks, but Branthwaite, a recent inclusion in England’s provisional EURO 2024 squad, is the most in-demand.
Given his main pursuers Manchester United paid £80million for Maguire five years ago, it’s hardly surprising to see Everton, even whilst mired in financial trouble, playing hard-ball with one of the Premier League’s richest clubs over a defender with such a high ceiling as Branthwaite.
In other Everton news, a journalist has been stunned by a new update involving John Textor at Goodison Park
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