Why Man Utd Is Willing to Splash £60M on Jarrad Branthwaite

Manchester United are operating quickly in the summer transfer window this year, with INEOS looking to tie up deals for many of their top targets before the Red Devils travel to the United States for their pre-season tour in July. 

United have already officially announced the signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, while a move for French defender Leny Yoro has accelerated over the last 24 hours, with a medical booked before the end of the week.

However, reports have indicated that United could look to bring in a second central defender this summer if they are able to offload one of Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof.

A long-term target for the Red Devils is Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite, but why are the Red Devils so keen to get a deal over the line for the English defender?

Name	Jarrad Branthwaite
Date of Birth	27 June 2002 (22 y/o)
Position	Centre-back
Height	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Current Club	Everton (contract until June 2027)
Former Clubs	Carlisle United, Blackburn Rovers, PSV
Transfer Value	€42M
National Team	England, 1 cap

Branthwaite’s Journey To The Top

Branthwaite is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young English central defenders after enjoying an excellent breakthrough season with Everton in the 2023-24 season.

The 22-year-old came through the ranks at his hometown club of Carlisle, but he made just nine first-team appearances before being snapped up by the Toffees on a two-and-a-half-year deal in June 2022.

The defender was quickly sent out on loan to Blackburn in January 2021, playing ten times in the second tier before picking up an injury. After returning to Goodison Park, he was handed a first team appearance in July against Wolves, before making his Premier League debut against Sheffield United later in the same month.

Breakthrough Season

Branthwaite was already drawing comparisons to former Everton defender John Stones after starring from the bench on a number of occasions, but his big breakthrough for the Toffees would come in the 2023-24 season.

Despite starting the campaign on the bench, he would force his way into the starting eleven before the end of August.

The central defender would form a strong partnership with James Tarkowski throughout the season, ensuring that Everton would enjoy one of the best defensive records in the Premier League. That structure would give the club the backbone that was required to secure their top-flight status, despite a number of points deductions.

His influence on the team throughout the campaign was apparent to fans, and that led to him being named as Everton’s Players’ Player of the Season and the Supporters’ Young Player of the Season.

United Keen To Snap Up Promising Talent

There has been clearly a tactic from United this summer to sign the best young and emerging talents in Europe, which has already been apparent in their pursuits of Yoro and Zirkzee. Branthwaite very much fits that same profile, and the Red Devils may see a £60 million deal as good value for the Englishman, given that his price tag could rise next summer.

The Everton star already has proven experience in the Premier League and was handed a first international appearance in England’s final EURO warm-up match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, Branthwaite would eventually miss out on the squad for the EUROs, leading to questions surrounding Southgate’s decision by fans, who believed that the 22-year-old should have been included after an excellent season for the Toffees.

Where Would He Fit In?

United’s determination to bring in two central defenders this summer is largely to give Erik ten Hag some flexibility when making his decisions for the upcoming campaign. 

Yoro and Lisandro Martinez will likely be the preferred options, but Branthwaite could enable United to play with a reliable back three in bigger matches throughout the season.

It would also add greater competition for positions in the heart of the defence. Furthermore, it would cover potential injuries throughout the season, which was a major reason for United’s issues throughout 2023-24, as ten Hag needed to field over 20 different partnerships in central defence.