‘That kind of calibre’: Wright urges United to sign player like sought-after PL stalwart

Ian Wright has urged Manchester United to sign a player like Everton stalwart Jarrad Branthwaite.

The 21-year-old is continuing to receive plaudits with every outing he makes for the Toffees, so much so that Gareth Southgate is reportedly mulling over granting Branthwaite his first-ever England call-up for the national team’s friendlies later this month. 

It’s been nothing short of a tumultuous term for Everton, who were only just granted four of their original 10 deducted points back, and the centre-half has been an undeniable silver lining for Sean Dyche and his men. 

Meanwhile, United took the Etihad with 36-year-old Jonny Evans named in the starting 11. He was later replaced by teenage academy graduate Willy Kambwala, which only highlights the side’s lack of depth when the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire are unavailable. 

Wright has his say

Given that some of the Reds’ top performers have been emerging talents Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, Wright believes Erik ten Hag should keep the youth theme running throughout his squad. 

“When you look at Kobbie Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund, what you want to see from the recruitment now is, from the defensive side,” the Arsenal legend began on Premier League Productions. “It seems to me they can get that spine sorted, with two really good young centre-halves that have got at least ten years quality.

“I am not saying to go and get Branthwaite at Everton, but that’s what you need, that kind of calibre of player coming through now at Man United, so you can get that spine sorted.

“And if it’s going to be Ten Hag, then he can get in the kind of players that is going to fit into what that team can be structured like. There is a lot of work to be done, it is going to come down to recruitment as well. They are going to have to recruit so much better than they have done.”