Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Joe Mewis

Manchester United transfer blow as selling club dig heels in: report

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is gearing up for the transfer window.

Manchester United will be targeting a new central defender when the transfer window opens next month. 

The need for defensive reinforcements is clear after the Red Devils completed their worst-ever Premier League season and ended it with a negative goal difference for the first time.

Centre-back Raphael Varane has confirmed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season following the expiration of his contract, while Jonny Evans’ deal is also almost up. 

Varane is leaving Old Trafford for free (Image credit: Getty Images)

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is preparing to spearhead a rebuild at Old Trafford this summer as the billionaire gets set for his first transfer window heading up the club’s football operations.

A busy summer is therefore expected, with reports suggesting that Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is Ratcliffe’s top target.

The former Carlisle United prospect has enjoyed a breakout season for the Toffees and has named in Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad for this summer’s Euro 2024 tournament on Tuesday.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite (Image credit: Getty Images)

Everton’s financial issues have been well documented of late, but the club appear to have dashed any hopes that Manchester United may have of signing the player on a cut-price deal.

According to Teamtalk, the Toffees will not shift from their £80million valuation of the 21-year-old, with Ratcliffe believed to have been hoping to agree a fee nearer the £50million mark.

Everton would see 15 per cent of any fee go to Carlisle as part of a sell-on clause of the 2020 deal that took the defender to Merseyside.

More Manchester United stories

Roy Keane reignites feud with Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United to admit crucial decision was a mistake, as Erik ten Hag is left sweating over his future: report

'As simple as that' - Gareth Southgate explains Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson Euro 2024 snubs

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.