Man Utd are 'best positioned' to sign 21yo star ahead of Real Madrid, club want £60m - report
Manchester United are in the best position to sign Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite amid fresh interest from Real Madrid, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Red Devils are set to part ways with Raphael Varane at the end of the season and have identified Branthwaite as one of their top targets to replace him.
Mundo Deportivo (page 12) claim United are ‘best positioned’ to sign the 21-year-old despite the increasing interest from clubs in England and Europe.
Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest while Madrid have made contact with the Toffees to enquire about the defender’s situation.
The Toffees are prepared to sell him for a fee of around €70 million (£60m).
Branthwaite would be an ideal centre-back signing for United
The Red Devils are set to lose Varane when his contract expires on June 30.
The club are likely to prioritise a right-sided centre-back. Branthwaite is left-footed, but he was successful playing on the right hand side for PSV Eindhoven on loan.
Branthwaite would be a brilliant signing due to his potential. He has won 68 percent of his duels this term with an average of 1.9 tackles, 4.4 clearances and 5.3 recoveries.
The centre-back has a passing accuracy of only 80 percent, but this should improve with better players around him who can control possession in high-pressure situations.
Everton want £60m but United should try to negotiate a lower transfer fee up front. An initial deal worth £50m with £10m in add-ons would be good business.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com.