United made a bid for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite on the opening day of the summer transfer window.
But the Manchester Evening News understands the Toffees are set to turn down the offer of £35m plus £8m in add-ons – with United believing all add-ons are achievable if Branthwaite reaches his full potential – which falls well short of their valuation for the highly-rated defender.
United made the offer on Friday as they stepped up their pursuit of Branthwaite, who is a leading target this summer as the club aim to sign at least one central defender. If the two clubs can agree a deal then personal terms will be a formality.
They remain some way apart in their valuations at the moment, however, and Everton deemed United’s opening offer unacceptable. Branthwaite is one of several central defenders under consideration at Old Trafford this summer as Erik ten Hag seeks to beef up that area of the team.
Raphael Varane will leave the club when his contract expires this month and Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire could be sold if offers come in. United have monitored Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and have an interest in highly-rated Lille teenager Leny Yoro.
Branthwaite is the principal target for now, however, and United could return with a new offer for the player who made his England debut this month but was cut from Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the European Championship.
He was one of the stars of Everton’s Premier League survival last term, scoring three times in 35 games as he impressed in his first full domestic campaign in the top flight. Branthwaite spent the 2022/23 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven.