Man Utd duo signed for £120m set to leave club to bankroll £75m summer transfer
Manchester United are eyeing up a summer move for Everton centre half Jarrad Branthwaite - and they may end up selling Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane to fund the deal.
Branthwaite, who will carry an asking price of £75m, has been one of the breakout stars in this season’s Premier League amid a chaotic campaign at Goodison Park and he has won many admirers. United are chief among them and head coach Erik ten Hag is eager to bolster his back line.
And with French defender Varane expected to move on at the end of this season, along with Maguire's future at Old Trafford remaining in doubt, Branthwaite is expected to top their wishlist.
Although Ten Hag's future remains unclear, after a disappointing second season in charge, United will push ahead with a bid for Branthwaite, even if he is sacked. Against the backdrop of stricter financial fair play rules, Ratcliffe is keen to invest in younger, home-grown talents who can provide United with a maximum return on their investment.
Varane, a £40m signing from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, has endured a difficult campaign at United and earlier in the season he was behind Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Maguire in the pecking order.
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Despite performing consistently in recent weeks, it is expected that the 30-year-old will be allowed to leave in the summer with a year left to run on his contract.
The future of Maguire, on the other hand, remains less clear. Having been stripped of the captaincy last summer, he has featured more than initially expected despite being close to joining West Ham United in August..
The England international, an £80m signing from Leicester City in the summer of 2019, has been injured since late February but could return for Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Liverpool. His contract also runs until the end of next season.
Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire have not been guaranteed starters this season.Branthwaite’s progress was recognised with a new long-term deal at Everton in October, which runs until 2027. But with Everton facing a possible second points deduction before the end of the season, they could be forced to cash in on some of their prized assets.
He has made six appearances for England's Under-21s and could be named in Gareth Southgate's senior squad for the first time when it is announced on Thursday ahead of England's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
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