Manchester United and Everton are still in discussions regarding Jarrad Branthwaite, with negotiations at a standstill. Ineos, who recently acquired control of football operations at Old Trafford, are working to finalize their first signing. Everton rejected a bid of £35m plus £8m in extras, as they are holding out for a £70m fee for the 21-year-old defender. United see this as impractical and are holding off on making an offer for their top defensive target until Everton potentially reduces their asking price. Everton is hoping that selling winger Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa will help alleviate their financial concerns before the upcoming deadline for the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules on June 30, although they may still be pushing the limits. Additionally, there are concerns that decisions made by Southgate could impact United negatively in the Euro 2024 competition. ALSO READ: The transfer trend that may benefit United in the upcoming summer. United are considering other options for their central defense and are also rumored to be interested in 18-year-old Lille defender Leny Yoro. The teenager is expected to be active during the summer and is being considered by United as a potential young central defender to replace Branthwaite. United’s main focus in this transfer window is to sign a striker, with Joshua Zirkzee being a target due to a €40m release clause in his Bologna contract. The Netherlands squad for Euro 2024 added the 23-year-old as a last-minute addition, facilitated by a clause in his contract. Manchester United are also reportedly interested in signing another player from Lille, striker Jonathan David. The 24-year-old player has one year remaining on his current contract and has no plans to renew, therefore it is anticipated that he will be traded by the Ligue 1 team this summer. United is interested in acquiring a striker at a discounted rate this summer to challenge Rasmus Hojlund, leading to David and Zirkzee being considered as possible targets. United’s aim to negotiate low-cost deals for transfers stems from their limited budget this summer, which has been affected by their early elimination from European competitions and failure to secure a spot in the next season’s Champions League. The team plans to increase their budget through player sales, with Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood possibly leaving early in the transfer window.
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