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Manchester United are reportedly looking to sign Everton center-back Jarrad Branthwaite and offload sidelined defenders Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire.
Jarrad Branthwaite joined the Toffees from Carlisle United in January 2020 and spent time at Blackburn Rover and PSV Eindhoven on loan. He has been one of the most promising young defenders in the Premier League in recent years.
The Englishman kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League last season, recording an impressive 5.2 ball recoveries and 4.5 clearances per game. He has also scored four goals and has a solitary assist in 55 games for Everton across competitions.
Manchester United were close to signing the Everton defender last season and got as far as to agreeing personal terms with him. However, the deal fell through and the Red Devils signed Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro instead.
According to an exclusive report by HITC, the Red Devils haven't lost interest in Branthwaite and plan on moving for him again. The report also mentions that Manchester United's football supremo Dan Ashworth is keen on pursuing the 22-year-old next year.
However, Everton don't plan on letting go of their star defender. Instead, they are prepared to make him one of the club's highest earners if he agrees to extend his current contract, which runs out in 2027.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are also looking to offload shunned defenders Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. Both will be out of contracts next summer and the club doesn't plan on renewing them.
Liverpool enter the race to sign Manchester United target Jarrad Branthwaite: Reports
According to a report by Fichajes.net, Liverpool are also keen on securing the services of Jarrad Branthwaite for their backline. They deem the Englishman as a worthy replacement for veteran defender Virgil van Dijk, whose contract runs out next summer.
However, the report also details the competition Liverpool will face from Manchester United in the race to sign the defender. Additionally, Everton will pose a financial hurdle as they have reportedly set Branthwaite's asking price at £80 million.
Virgil Van Dijk has been one of the key differentiators in Liverpool's lineup ever since he came to Anfield from Southampton in 2018. In addition to being one of Liverpool's ace defenders, the Dutchman has been a major threat to the opposition going forward. His penchant for scoring from dead-ball situations has been a prime facet of his game over the years.
In 277 games for the Reds across competitions, Van Dijk has netted 24 goals and laid out 12 assists. It will be interesting to see the transfer saga for Branthwaite unfolding next season between three of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.
