Everton will not allow Jarrad Branthwaite to leave for Manchester United
There have been constant talks and debates about Manchester United’s structure. The club constantly sees departures and new signings in the backline. Right now, United have an interesting mix of both experience and youth. Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire are the most senior players in the backline. The Englishman has extended his contract till June 2026, but it is not certain that the 33-year-old will continue beyond next summer.
The Argentine is one of the best defenders, but currently continues to stay away from the game with an ACL injury. Other than these two players, the club has the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro. United do have full-backs in the likes of Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui on the right and Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu on the left. However, they might still be looking for a new centre-back with Maguire’s future still uncertain. Meanwhile, reports suggest Manchester United are confident that Napoli will sign Rasmus Hojlund permanently.
Everton’s stance blocks Branthwaite’s move
Journalist Pete O’Rourke has reported to Football Insider that the spotlight is again on the future of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The toffees won’t consider selling their 23-year-old talent at this point. The Englishman is one of the most important players in Goodison Park and has impressed everyone with his consistency, along with his maturity at this age. The journalist revealed that the Red Devils, along with Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool, continue to monitor the future of the defender whose contract expires in 2030. This was one of the most important moves from Everton, which practically sealed his fate.
They intend to keep him at the heart of their project and avoid weakening their side midway through the season. It feels like a closed door for January. In the midst of such speculation, reports claim Sir Jim Ratcliffe has held crucial talks with Ruben Amorim about long-term direction, highlighting how much off-pitch planning continues while transfer frustration lingers.
“I’d be very surprised if Everton would even consider letting Branthwaite go right now. Speculation has surrounded his future for the last couple of years, and in the summer transfer window, because he’s really impressed for Everton and has been in and around the England setup. I’m not surprised there is interest from the likes of Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham and even Liverpool were linked with him as well.
“One of the best pieces of business Everton did over the summer was tying down Branthwaite to a new contract until 2030. It was a huge boost to ward off interest. Everton’s stance is that Branthwaite is not for sale; they want to keep him, he’s part of the new project, and they don’t want to weaken the squad. I think right now Everton are planning for life with Branthwaite and wouldn’t even consider any offers for the defender in January.”
Why United needed Branthwaite’s profile
Branthwaite looked exactly the type of defender who could address some of the team’s biggest problems. With Lisandro Martínez’s worrying injury record and Harry Maguire’s habit of mixing strong spells with costly lapses, there is a clear gap for a younger centre-back with high potential. Branthwaite, with his strong aerial ability, sharp tackling, and composure in possession, ticked almost every box that United fans have asked for in recent years. He is two-footed and comfortable playing on either side of central defence. This makes him even more attractive, while he has already displayed his leadership qualities even at this age for Everton.
Yet Everton’s valuation of £70m in the summer stood as the stumbling block. It was difficult to justify paying that outright, especially given the other financial priorities the club faces. His progress since then, including his call-up for England, will only push the price higher, making a January pursuit unlikely. This raises the question of alternatives.
United require a defender with Branthwaite’s profile, one who can provide reliability now while growing into a long-term leader at the back. As supporters, we can only hope the club moves decisively, because waiting longer risks another season of frustration where defensive fragility continues to undo progress elsewhere.