Everton agreed Jarrad Branthwaite transfer as ‘Outrageous ’ Man United claim emerges the winner to sign him
Bryan King believes Everton and Manchester United will reach a £50million agreement for Jarrad Branthwaite.
The ex-Goodison scout claims the Toffees had every right to reject the Red Devils’ opening offer for the centre-back.
As reported by The Athletic (14 June), Erik Ten Hag’s side submitted an initial bid worth £35million for Branthwaite.
The bid was viewed by Everton as “unacceptable”, and the Liverpool Echo reported that same day (14 June) that the bid had already been turned down.
However, King – speaking exclusively to Goodison News – feels a deal will get done.
“I don’t think it was a mistake for Everton to reject the offer,” King said.
“As I see it, the final agreement will be £50million plus add-ons. If he becomes a regular international, how many appearances he makes for the club etc.”
Everton sell Jarrad Branthwaite to Manchester United this summer
No one would have expected Everton to accept United’s opening offer for Branthwaite.
The Toffees are after a premium price for the 21-year-old and £35million certainly didn’t fit into that bracket.
However, United will no doubt come again, and this could be a transfer saga which drags on all summer.
It remains to be seen whether or not Branthwaite does end up at Old Trafford, but if the two clubs can agree on a deal worth around £50million, that would probably represent good value for the Toffees.
As reported by The Times (13 June), Branthwaite has already agreed personal terms with United, and that coupled with Everton’s financial struggles really undermines the Toffees’ negotiating position.
In other Everton news, the club have been handed an “incredible” boost after terms were officially agreed at Goodison Park.
Crystal Palace have put a hefty price tag on Marc Guehi after noting the Everton valuation of Jarrad Branthwaite, according to Skysport.
The paper reported on their website on 17 June that Palace are trying to secure a new deal with the centre-back, who started for England the night before in the 1-0 win over Serbia, but will not entertain bids below £65million if he asks to leaves when returning from the Euros.
That decision comes as the Toffees have put a £70m asking price on Branthwaite, who narrowly missed out on the final Three Lions squad, and at Selhurst Park they value their man in a similar bracket.
Everton have so far rejected a low offer from Manchester United who want to sign Branthwaite in a cut-price deal [Mirror, 14 June].
So with Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth reporting on 17 June that Guehi is one of the alternative options at Old Trafford it will come as another blow to Sir Jim Ratcliffe if Palace have decided to follow the Toffees’ lead.
Ratcliffe’s attempts to sign the Everton star on the cheap has already been given short shrift at Goodison Park and been heavily criticised elsewhere.
