Everton Set to Receive £50m Bid for Key Star

Everton are in line to receive a bid for Jarrad Branthwaite during the early stages of the summer transfer window

Everton are bracing themselves for their ‘biggest test’ in attempting to keep Jarrad Branthwaite at Goodison Park as Manchester United are set to ‘test the waters’ with a bid, and transfer insider Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that the Toffees could be forced to cash in due to fears of going into administration.

The Merseyside giants were left with no option but to accept a £60million bid for Richarlison when Tottenham Hotspur formalised their interest last summer, due to fears of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, and boss Sean Dyche is poised to find himself in a similar situation in the coming weeks.

Branthwaite was rewarded with a place in England’s 33-man training squad as preparations are made for Euro 2024 after shining for Everton this season, but his performances at club level have resulted in there being uncertainty over whether he will be in his current surroundings for much longer.

Man United Refusing to Meet Toffees’ Demands for Branthwaite

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has warned Everton that he will not be held to ransom after pinpointing Branthwaite as one of the Red Devils’ priority summer transfer targets, according to the Daily Star, resulting in it being increasingly unlikely that a bid which meets his £80million price tag will be made.

The report suggests that the FA Cup winners are looking to take advantage of the Toffees’ perilous financial situation as they bid to land the central defender, who still has three years remaining on his £35,000-per-week contract, having been made aware that their Premier League rivals are cash-strapped and in need of raising funds.

Branthwaite’s departure would result in Michael Keane being in line to secure more regular game time at Goodison Park, but GMS sources recently revealed that Manchester United are unwilling to pay more than £55million when the transfer window reopens in the coming weeks, which falls a significant amount short of Everton’s demands.