Everton hike player's price tag amid interest from elsewhere – report

Everton have raised the price tag of Jarrad Branthwaite to £80million to ward off transfer interest from Manchester United, according to TEAMtalk.

The online outlet reported on 14 October that in the wake of rejecting two bids from United over the summer, the Toffees will now not accept anything less than £80m for their star centre-back.

Branthwaite, 22, is still of interest to the Red Devils despite buying two other central defenders ahead of the England international, but he also remains an integral part of the Blues’ setup going forward.

Dan Friedkin’s buyout of Farhad Moshiri is set to be ratified and completed before the January window opens, and the club’s new owners plan on building a new-look Toffees side around Branthwaite.

Everton takeover set to be key in bid to keep Jarrad Branthwaite

Upon stepping through the doors as Everton’s new owner, Friedkin will arguably see Branthwaite as by far his highest-value asset in terms of the playing squad at Goodison Park.

However, given the significant level of finance the American is set to inject on Merseyside, as well as the club’s stadium move to Bramley-Moore Dock on the horizon, selling Branthwaite would be an odd move.

Cashing in on Branthwaite as one of his first moves in charge would be a baffling PR move for Friedkin to make, damaging his reputation among the Goodison faithful right from the off.

Therefore, it seems all-but certain that until at least the summer of 2025, Branthwaite will be staying put on Merseyside, and keeping him at the club will likely remain a top priority going forward.

A new era is dawning for the Toffees with new ownership set to coincide with their game-changer of a new stadium [Liverpool Echo, 29 September], and one player primed to represent that transition is their number 32.

In other Everton news, what’s left of the Toffees boardroom has been shared with Farhad Moshiri on his way out of Goodison Park.

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