As if Manchester United’s pursuit of one of their top summer targets was not complicated enough already.
But, following the very unwelcome developments of Saturday morning, a hurdle so large even Karsten Warholm would struggle to clear might have just been planted in Erik ten Hag’s path.
Manchester United, almost as soon as the summer started, put Jarrad Branthwaite right at the top of their list of centre-half targets.
Still extremely young at just 21 but already proven in the Premier League – two footed, physically imposing and technically gifted too – the Everton colossus ticked just about every single box imaginable.
But while there was some initial confidence given Everton’s well-publicised financial issues, that early optimism is turning into pessimism as we head towards mid-July.
Everton firm on Manchester United target Jarrad Branthwaite
The Toffees have already rejected two Man United bids, including one worth £45 million rising to £50 million.
The Times report that the Red Devils are refusing to give up just yet. A third bid is in the offing, although there is still a £25 million gap between the fee United are offering and the fee Everton are holding out for.
And Ten Hag will not be thanking top-flight rivals Aston Villa for potentially emboldening Everton’s stance even further.
The Athletic reports that Aston Villa are now ‘finalising’ a deal that would see Amadou Onana leave Merseyside for Birmingham to the tune of £50 million. Personal terms for the towering Belgian – who had himself been linked with Man United – have also been agreed.
Now, it was always expected that Everton would have to sell one of their two prized assets this summer. One, not both.
And with Onana now edging ever closer to pulling on that claret-and-blue kit, any lingering hopes that Man United had regarding their long-running pursuit of Branthwaite may be about to go up in a puff of smoke.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein adds on X that the Onana to Villa Park deal ‘all but ends’ Man United’s chances to reinforcing Ten Hag’s backline with the club’s leading centre-half priority.
Aston Villa may have just ruined Red Devils plans
It’s not as if Man United have much leverage either.
Their rival pursuit of Lille’s Leny Yoro may offset the prospect of missing out on Branthwaite but – despite seeing a bid accepted this week – the 18-year-old Frenchman is still expected to end up at Real Madrid.
Tosin Adarabioyo, another United target, has already joined Chelsea from West London neighbours Fulham.
So while it’s not all bad news – Matthijs de Ligt is still on his way from Bayern Munich – there looks to be a very real chance now that Man United land only one of their leading central defensive targets this summer.
United may therefore have to think outside the box if they are to keep their chances of snaring Branthwaite alive.
Former Everton midfielder Don Hutchison wonders if arms could be twisted should United offer Harry Maguire as a makeweight in any potential deal.
“If they are going to sell Branthwaite, they were rumoured to be wanting about £80 million. That will probably come down to £60 million or £70 million. But they want a lot of money for him,” Hutchison tells ESPN FC.
“I like De Ligt. But, longevity-wise, Branthwaite is the one I would move for. For United, him (Branthwaite) and Lisandro Martinez (would be the starting centre-halves).
“I think they’ll try and move Harry Maguire on. (He will be) on big wages. That will be difficult. They might even try and use him in the Branthwaite deal if they tried to bring him in.”