A recent report has shed light on the situation, revealing the subsequent moves both clubs are now planning to undertake.
The center-back position at Old Trafford is expected to see significant changes this summer. Raphael Varane has already left the club as a free agent and is on the verge of joining Serie A newcomers Como.
Meanwhile, Victor Lindelof is attracting serious interest from Turkish clubs, and Manchester United is once again considering the sale of Harry Maguire.
As a result, Manchester United needs to secure at least one new center-back, and their top target was Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
The club quickly agreed on personal terms with the 21-year-old left-footed defender, who was set to earn around £150,000 per week if he moved to Old Trafford.
However, the transfer fee has proven to be a significant obstacle. Everton values Branthwaite at £70 million, drawing comparisons to the recent transfers of Wesley Fofana to Chelsea and Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City, both of which commanded fees slightly above that amount.
In contrast, Manchester United’s initial bid of £43 million, including £8 million in add-ons, fell short of Everton’s expectations.
Despite their interest, Manchester United remained firm on not overpaying for Branthwaite.
There was some hope that Everton might lower their demands before the June 30 PSR deadline, but that deadline has passed without any resolution.
According to Football Insider, Branthwaite will not be moving this summer.
Everton’s decision to keep Branthwaite has led them to plan the sale of another defender, Michael Keane. Additionally, there are reports that striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be offloaded, although a move to Newcastle failed to materialize due to their inability to sell Callum Wilson.
With Branthwaite seemingly off the table and Manchester United unwilling to meet Everton’s £70 million asking price, it appears certain that the young defender won’t be heading to Old Trafford this summer.
However, Manchester United has other targets in mind, with Bayern Munich’s Matthijs De Ligt now emerging as a primary focus.
The 24-year-old Dutch defender is open to leaving Bayern after his playing time was significantly reduced last season.
Reports indicate that De Ligt is even willing to take a pay cut to facilitate the move.
News from the Netherlands suggests that De Ligt has been offered a five-year contract, which he is prepared to sign.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who previously worked with De Ligt at Ajax, has personally reached out to the player to persuade him to join.
Bayern Munich is seeking around €50 million plus add-ons for De Ligt, a fee that Manchester United might be willing to meet now that Branthwaite is no longer an option.
Paris Saint-Germain has also shown interest in De Ligt, and there have been rumors about Liverpool’s involvement.
However, De Ligt has made it clear that he only wants to join Manchester United, instructing his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, to inform other interested parties of his preference.
