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Manchester United have made an opening bid in the region of \u00a335m for centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, which is set to be rejected by Everton.<\/b><\/p>\n
The offer is way below the figure the Toffees value the defender at, which is understood to be \u00a380m.<\/p>\n
United have already agreed personal terms with the player.<\/p>\n
However BBC Sport has been told Everton do not want to sell Branthwaite, 21, whom many believe was unlucky to miss out on selection<\/a> for England’s European Championship squad.<\/p>\n The Merseyside club believe it is a matter of time before Branthwaite becomes an England regular and rate him in the same bracket as Harry Maguire and Josko Gvardiol.<\/p>\n Maguire cost United \u00a380m when he joined from Leicester in 2019. Gvardiol cost Manchester City \u00a377m when he moved from RB Leipzig last summer.<\/p>\n Branthwaite has caught the eye with a series of impressive performances as a left-sided central defender for Everton, helping the Merseyside club to avoid relegation last season despite two points deductions for breaching rules limiting financial losses.<\/p>\n In May Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell said players “will be sold”<\/a> this summer and asked fans for “patience and understanding” as the club work to improve their financial condition.<\/p>\n With current profit and sustainability rules (PSR) in place for next season and no Champions League football, United are open to offers<\/a> for almost all their first-team squad as they look to generate funds and improve Erik ten Hag’s squad.<\/p>\n United have put a \u00a340m price tag<\/a> on 24-year-old forward Jadon Sancho.<\/p>\n