6 months ago
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Jeff Stelling is convinced that Manchester United will successfully sign Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton this summer, who is their No.1 defensive target.
United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who took over football operations earlier this season, has put Branthwaite at the top of his wishlist for a new centre-back.
Everton slapped a huge price tag on the 21-year-old back in December while Tottenham and Spanish giants Real Madrid have also been linked to the player.
Branthwaite spent last season on loan at PSV and he has broken into the Everton starting XI this term under Sean Dyche with a series of impressive performances.
Amid fresh reports that Manchester City have joined the race to sign Branthwaite, Stelling is tipping the Englishman to snub the Etihad for Old Trafford.
‘It’s going to happen, Everton need the money and their biggest asset, their most sellable asset, is 21-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite,’ Stelling said on talkSPORT.
‘I think he will find himself at Old Trafford. Never mind Man City, it’ll be Old Trafford I imagine.
‘With the likes of Jonny Evans, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, all ageing players, they need to bring in some youth and I’m thinking £45 million, something like that, would do the job.’
Branthwaite has made a total of 44 appearances for Everton to date and he is under contract until 2027.
He received his first call up for England earlier this month and will be hoping to earn his first cap in Tuesday’s Euro 2024 warm-up friendly against Belgium.
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