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Callum McAvoyPublished Jul 31, 2024, 10:05am|Updated Jul 31, 2024, 10:06am
Everton boss Sean Dyche has firmly denied that the signing of Jake O’Brien will facilitate the sale of Jarrad Branthwaite to Manchester United.
The 22-year-old has been on United’s shortlist for over a year, with Erik ten Hag keen to bring in another centre-back following the £52million signing of Leny Yoro.
Matthijs de Ligt and Antonio Silva have also been linked, but it is said Branthwaite has already agreed personal terms with the Red Devils and is refusing to sign a new Toffees contract.
However, Everton are holding firm on their £70m valuation of the England international, previously rejecting a £50m bid for the player who just missed out on a place at Euro 2024.
And despite now having a replacement for Branthwaite, Dyche is adamant his star player will not be leaving Goodison Park this summer.
Asked by Sky Sports what bearing O’Brien had on Branthwaite’s future, the manager jokingly exclaimed: ‘No way! You’re kidding me! I’m very surprised you’ve put two and two together at Everton Football Club.
‘It’s nothing to do with that. It’s just to do with trying to model the club with the finances available. Obviously we’re stretched at the moment with depth.
‘Trying to bring in players who can add layers to the club. Younger players who can develop and protect the club both on and off the pitch with their performances and then in the future with the finances.
‘It’s a tough juggling act and it’s tough to find the players who can do that. We think we have a few here.
‘We’ve made it clear to him [Branthwaite] that there’s nothing other than that. But of course put two and two together and everyone starts speculating. What do you do?’
Following the £50m sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa, Everton are under no pressure to sell this summer, making it likely that United will have to break the bank if they want Branthwaite at Old Trafford.
O’Brien has been signed for around £17m from Lyon, just a year after the 23-year-old Ireland international left Crystal Palace.
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