Sources share Jarrad Branthwaite Everton stance amid Manchester United transfer pursuit

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is “committed” to the club as transfer speculation mounts over a move to Manchester United, according to the i.

The i’s latest report states that the Toffees are now “confident” that they will can reject United’s advances to keep Branthwaite this summer, after rejecting a bid of £35million plus £8million in add-ons [Don Hutchison].

Branthwaite is valued much higher by the Goodison Park hierarchy, closer to £80million, and while there is hope at Old Trafford that the Blues may relent, there is reportedly “no chance” of that happening.

Previous reports had stated that the England centre-back had agreed personal terms with United, but the i’s sources said that Branthwaite, who is under contract until 2027, was committed to the club.

Everton likely to keep Jarrad Branthwaite in transfer window

No player means more to the Toffees this summer – certainly in terms of market value – than Branthwaite, and it’s hardly surprising that the club have set a high price tag that looks to have put United off.

£80million is what the Red Devils paid Leicester City for Harry Maguire five years ago, and that fact was referenced at Goodison Park in their reasoning for Branthwaite to cost just as much [Liverpool Echo].

Left-sided centre-backs are always at a premium and while the i’s report implied that the Toffees didn’t expect to be able to keep hold on Branthwaite for much longer, doing so this summer is a high priority.

Sales for players like Amadou Onana seem more likely to be on the cards, potentially even before the end of June [Het Laatste Nieuws], while Dominic Calvert-Lewin could also be cashed in on if he fails to agree to a new contract [TEAMtalk].

‘Anyone but Branthwaite’ is the policy on Merseyside this summer, and that’s good news for Toffees manager Sean Dyche as he looks to build next season’s defensive efforts around the 21-year-old starlet.

In other Everton news, one player is en route to Finch Farm for a medical ahead of a transfer.

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