Manchester United are now battling Liverpool for the signature of a rising star, who could be brought in to replace a first-team player this summer, according to a report.
Man Utd struggling defensively
It would be fair to say Man United have struggled at both ends of the pitch this season, with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund struggling to deliver in attack, while there have also been some very poor defensive performances.
The Red Devils have conceded three goals at home against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, and their frailties were on show once again in the 2-2 draw against Everton at the weekend, with Harry Maguire receiving criticism.
There has been doubt over Maguire for quite some time, with the Englishman being stripped of the captaincy during the Erik ten Hag era, and there are now indications Ruben Amorim is looking to bring in a replacement this summer.
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The Red Devils are now negotiating a summer move for an exciting young forward.
According to a report from Caught Offside, United held off on signing a centre-back in the January transfer window, at which point Maguire was in good form, but they are now ready to battle it out for the signature of Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are also named as potential suitors for Branthwaite, with some of the Premier League‘s biggest clubs queuing up to get a deal done, while Real Madrid have also been linked.
However, the centre-back will not come cheap, as the report reveals he will cost in excess of £70m, and Everton are determined to keep hold of him, with the plan being to extend his contract until 2030.
“Colossal” Branthwaite performing well for Everton
The Toffees have been in resurgent form since David Moyes returned to Goodison Park, and the 22-year-old has continued to play a key role, starting every Premier League game under his new manager.
The Englishman has also averaged a 7.06 SofaScore match rating in the league this season, ranking him among the best performers in the Everton squad, while also eclipsing Maguire’s average of 6.86.
In the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday, the Carlisle-born centre-back was rated as the best-performing defender on the pitch, winning seven of the eight duels he contested, indicating he could be a real upgrade on the Red Devils’ current options.
Maguire is by no means a bad player, ranking highly across some key defensive metrics over the past year, placing in the 97th percentile for interceptions, and the 93rd percentile for aerials won.
However, if Amorim is to turn United back into contenders near the top of the table, it is clear he will need to improve his defence this summer, and Branthwaite, who has been lauded as “colossal”, is showing signs he could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.
