Everton have refused to lower their valuation for prized asset Jarrad Branthwaite amid concrete interest from Manchester United.
Journalist Chris Beesley claims the club will not be bullied into selling Branthwaite for a bargain despite their financial situation.
The Toffees reportedly planned to sanction a ‘fire sale’ this summer to raise funds and keep their head above water.
Beesley has rubbished those rumours, branding them as ‘wide of the mark’ despite the uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership.
Everton have a couple of highly sought-after players in their squad, but Branthwaite is their hottest commodity.
The Englishman has plenty of admirers in the Premier League and abroad, but Man United are looking to beat the competition and secure his signature.
However, both clubs differ over the player’s valuation. Everton value Branthwaite at £80 million, given the current inflated market.
Man United believe they can snap up the highly rated centre-back for a bargain fee of around £40m, which is way below Everton’s asking price.
Everton are adamant they are not under pressure to part ways with their high-value assets and will only sanction a sale if their demands are met.
Branthwaite’s valuation skyrocketed in the 2023/24 season after playing a crucial part in helping the Toffees preserve their Premier League status.
His impressive form earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad for the upcoming European Championship tournament in Germany.
Branthwaite’s contract runs until 2027, and they are adamant that Man United will need to fork out a significant fee to snap him up this summer.
