Sean Dyche handed Jarrad Branthwaite boost at Everton after Manchester United transfer update
Everton have always insisted in the lead-up to this summer's transfer window that there is no need for a fire sale at Goodison Park.
Despite suggestions from journalists and pundits alike, the Toffees have always insisted that they are not under any financial pressure to sell any of their biggest stars for cut-price fees between now and the end of the summer.
While the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Amadou Onana have been repeatedly linked with the exit door, no player's future has been surrounded by more speculation than Jarrad Branthwaite after his breakthrough year on Merseyside.
The 21-year-old is reportedly a target for Manchester United during the transfer window, but it has been suggested that the Blues will hold out for a record-breaking transfer fee before selling him this summer [TBR Football, 31 May].
United had thought they could take advantage of Everton's current financial and ownership situation to secure the defender's services for a smaller fee, but it doesn't seem like Sean Dyche's side is going to be that flexible.
The Toffees boss may have now been handed a new boost to his chances of keeping the English international on Merseyside as well after a new update emerged surrounding the Red Devil's summer transfer plans.
Will Manchester United sack Erik ten Hag amid Jarrad Branthwaite and Everton speculation?
According to The Telegraph (11 June), sources close to Old Trafford suggest that there may be limited funds available to either Erik ten Hag or a new manager because of past overspending in the market.
If that is the case, it seems incredibly unlikely that United would be able to match the world-record fee that Everton are looking for to allow Branthwaite to depart Goodison Park during the summer window.
These things can change very quickly in football and limited funds could mean something very different at Manchester United than it would for the Toffees, but it will give Dyche hope he can keep his star defender this summer.
Ultimately, speculation around Branthwaite's future won't be going anywhere anytime soon and it will mre than likely rumble on until the start of next season, but it wouldn't be a shock if he was still at Goodison next term.
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