Man Utd hit transfer snag over Everton star after talks with Chelsea defender - report

Jarrad Branthwaite’s hefty asking price at Everton is set to be an issue for Manchester United this summer, according to Alex Crook.

The talkSPORT journalist reported on the station’s website on 11 June that the Old Trafford club are “reluctant” to pay the £70million-plus fee that the Toffees require to let their star defender leave.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to want United to avoid paying inflated fees for players as they have done previously, and also believes his club is the only “serious” suitor for Branthwaite despite “loose” interest from Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid and doesn’t want to get into a bidding war “against himself”.

United reportedly held talks with Tosin Adarabioyo but the former Fulham man has instead signed for Chelsea, and are also interested in Jean-Clair Todibo at Nice.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe reluctant to pay Everton asking price

Anything that makes it harder for Branthwaite to leave this summer is likely to be popular with the Everton fanbase so if the club are prepared to hold out of a massive fee that is encouraging.

There have been fears that the Toffees might be obliged to sell in a hurry ahead of 30 June thanks to profit and sustainability pressures, just as they had to do with Richarlison to Tottenham two years ago.

But the club are maintaining they don’t have to let the defender leave unless the receive an acceptable offer, despite expectations to the contrary in Manchester [Liverpool Echo, 8 June], and if that holds then Ratcliffe may be forced to look elsewhere.

Branthwaite also has widely reported interest from across the Premier League, so if the Old Trafford chief believes United are the only serious players in the transfer race that may be because other suitors have accepted the 21-year-old is out of their price range this summer.

Branthwaite may have just missed out on a place at the Euros with England despite a standout season under Sean Dyche at Goodison Park, but he only signed a new Toffees deal last season that runs for another three years.

A player of his quality who is not on an expiring deal, who his club don’t want to lose, is going to be expensive either way, not least as he would count as a domestic player, so he will cost.

The wildcard is the uncertainty over the financial situation at Goodison Park but if cost cutting measures behind the scenes have been sufficient to take the pressure off major sales then perhaps Everton can actually negotiate without being in a weak position for once.

In other Everton news, a multimillion pound takeover bid has been dismissed as an unserious offer.

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