Manchester United may have to win the Europa League if they are to convince Jarrad Branthwaite to leave Everton in the summer.
Branthwaite emerged as a top target for United last summer after an impressive Premier League campaign but the club saw their two bids for the centre-back rejected by Everton.
The 22-year-old has continued to impress at Goodison Park this year under both Sean Dyche and David Moyes and United are now expected to resume their quest to sign the defender in the summer.
Rubem Amorim will no doubt be keen on defensive reinforcements when the transfer window reopens, particularly with the contracts of Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof expiring at the end of the season.
And according to The Sun, the club are ready to sanction a bid of around £50million which they believe will meet Everton’s valuation of the centre-back who is under contract until 2027.
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The report adds that Branthwaite is willing to make the move to Old Trafford, but will only do so if United are playing in the Champions League next season.
After a disappointing league campaign, Amorim’s side are currently languishing in 13th place with nine games still to play.
However, the Red Devils can still qualify for the Champions League should they win the Europa League.
United impressed with a 5-2 aggregate win over Real Sociedad in the last-16 and now face a quarter-final tie with Lyon after the international break.
Branthwaite is hopeful that a move to a club playing in Europe can help him force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s reckoning ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The centre-back narrowly missed out on Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024 and was not selected for Tuchel’s first England squad and will instead represent the Under-21 side.
Speaking last month, current Everton boss Moyes warned prospective buyers that they will need a ‘big bag of money’ if they want to prise Branthwaite away from the Merseyside club.
‘Jarrad has done really well,’ the Scotsman said. ‘There are moments when he can do better, there are times he still plays like a young centre-back but has an awful lot going for him.
‘He’s already been involved in the England squad before I came, he played really well last week and has got a good mentor around him in Tarky [James Tarkowski].
‘So, Jarrad is a top player and if people want to buy Jarrad, I’ve said many times – bring a big bag of money.’
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