Jarrad Branthwaite bid rejected as Man Utd send ‘biggest offer’ for £60m starlet

Manchester United are set up for a busy couple of months this summer as the transfer window officially opened yesterday.

Erik ten Hag will have a lot to do in order to get his squad sorted following a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League which was the complete antithesis of their FA Cup run which saw them lift their second domestic trophy in as many seasons under the Dutchman.

Having had his future secured in a decision made by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this week, Ten Hag will no doubt be out to prove his doubters wrong after their tough 2023/24 campaign by wheeling and dealing his way through the summer months with concerns around their standing with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) hanging over their shoulder.

READ MORE: Jarrad Branthwaite to Man United transfer: £35m bid, personal terms ‘agreed’, Everton stance

READ MORE: Jarrad Branthwaite analysed as Man United make ‘opening offer’ for Everton defender

Man United opened the transfer window this summer by immediately sending a formal bid worth up to £43 million for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite but it was summarily rejected by the Toffees later that day. It’s long been believed Sean Dyche’s side will command a fee of at least £70m for the star whose performances at Goodison Park led him to Gareth Southgate’s 33-man provisional England squad for the Euros.

When asked about the rumours of a potential move to Man United back in April, Branthwaite simply shrugged off the comments and reiterated his focus to keeping Everton in the Premier League for next season. He said: “You have just got to block it all out. I think if you focus on the outside stuff, you get distracted from what you need to do on the pitch.”

Elsewhere, the Red Devils are reportedly ‘very serious’ about signing Lille centre-back Leny Yoro and have already submitted the ‘biggest offer so far’ in order to get ahead of their competition for the 18-year-old according to Spanish outlet AS.

United are fighting against Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid for the youngster, and it’s been claimed they are ‘very close’ to the asking price of €60m (£50m) that’s required to pull him away from France.

It’s said that while Madrid are heavily interested in the star, they don’t want to go ‘all out’ for him given his contract situation which runs out next summer, with Los Blancos believing they can get him at a cut-price if he doesn’t leave Lille this summer.

It’d be a huge addition to what has been a weak defensive unit this season, with Raphael Varane having already left the club along with a possible Jonny Evans exit as his contract expires, while Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Willy Kambwala would be the only centre-backs left.