United tipped to enter ‘summer bidding war’ with Spurs and Real Madrid for £35k-a-week talent who ‘ticks a lot of boxes’

Manchester United hold a longstanding interest in Jarrad Branthwaite and could pursue the Everton stalwart at the end of the season.

Branthwaite’s performances amidst a tumultuous season for the Toffees have quickly seen him become one of the hottest prospects in Europe, and while his club will do everything in their power to keep hold of him long-term, they’ll know how tricky it’ll be come the summer.

Not only do Everton have such little room for manoeuvre around financial regulations, which could see them forced to sell their more valuable assets, but their Premier League status currently hangs in the balance after their 10-point deduction left the Blues in the bottom three. They now sit 17th-placed.

An up-and-coming starlet like Branthwaite, who is already being tipped for a senior England call-up, is unlikely to want to take his talents below the top flight.

That’s where the likes of United, Tottenham Hotspur and even Real Madrid come in. The trio are all believed to have established their interest in the 21-year-old, and were not put off by his four-year contract extension in October 2023; his £35,000-a-week terms means he is technically tied down to the Goodison Park outfit until June 2027.

Three clubs circling Branthwaite ahead of summer window

Speaking to GiveMeSport, transfer journalist Ben Jacobs shared his verdict on how Branthwaite’s situation could develop in the coming months.

“I think that there is going to be a bidding war, in many ways, during the summer,” he began. “I think Tottenham will be there, and we know that Real Madrid have looked in the past as well.

“It is true that bringing in at least one young centre-back is on Manchester United’s positional radar. Homegrown players are also a key focus, so Branthwaite ticks a lot of boxes, especially with him being a left-sided centre-back.”