Offer enough and they go: PL manager makes candid admission on ‘magnificent’ Utd target’s transfer status

Everton appear to be growing resigned to the fact that Jarrad Branthwaite is unlikely to be at the club for years to come.

It comes amid fresh reports that Manchester United are drawing up plans behind the scenes of how they can sanction the England international’s arrival in their third attempt, having had two bids rejected by Everton at the beginning of summer.

The Reds’ initial proposal was thought to be in the region of £45 million all-in, followed by a £55m package offer. However, both were laughed off by the Goodison Park board. Their pursuit was made more difficult due to the five-year contract Branthwaite signed last October, giving Everton some much-needed security over his situation.

That’s all good and well up until the player decides himself he wants to leave, though, and while the 22-year-old is yet to speak on the matter of a potential exit, there have been claims that he’s readying himself for a move to a top European club. The likes of United, Real Madrid and Liverpool have all been deemed admirers in the past, and turning down such interest may prove inconceivable for Branthwaite at this stage of his career.

Especially because, as it stands, he’s fallen in the pecking order under Sean Dyche. It’s a pretty remarkable turn of events and one that’s reportedly raised the eyebrows of his Premier League suitors, considering he was a mainstay in the Toffees’ XI last season.

Dyche’s Branthwaite admission will be music to INEOS’ ears

The Cumbrian did endure a delayed start to the campaign due to a groin injury but returned to full fitness in time to make the starting 11 against Crystal Palace in matchweek six, which coincided with Everton’s first win of the season. He was then absent from the draw with Newcastle United and win over Ipswich Town before making the matchday squad for the subsequent two fixtures – albeit as a substitute.

Indeed, Branthwaite made a brief four-minute cameo in a 1-1 draw to Fulham and a two-minute appearance in a 1-0 defeat to Southampton. 

When pressed on the ‘magnificent’ centre-half’s status in his press conference this week, Dyche made an honest admission on how the club has to approach transfer dealings while navigating a precarious financial situation.

“I don’t know any of their [new owners] plans, their thoughts or feelings about the club at this time or the finances. So that would clearly be a new decision,” Dyche told reporters, as cited by the Daily Express.

“The current decision would be that it is likely that if somebody bid enough money for any player – by the way, forget about Jarrad, it is not relevant [just to mention] Jarrad – any player at this football club as you have seen over the last couple of windows.

“If someone offers enough money, then they go. Alex Iwobi was like that a day or so before the deadline [in summer 2023]. I didn’t want to lose Alex, but they said, ‘Look, this is a deal we’ve got to do’.”