Man Utd’s next big signing? The €90m transfer dilemma facing Carrick

Man Utd have a Branthwaite problem - and Everton will love it Make us your Google favourite Manchester United are once again studying the possibility of signing Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite , having held a long-standing interest in the centre-back, but while the player’s quality is not in any doubt, there are big issues to resolve. The Red Devils targeted Branthwaite in the summer of 2024, but after a protracted transfer saga, missed out on the player. He is still regarded as a possible long-term replacement for Harry Maguire or Lisandro Martinez, and with United not having invested in their defence over the course of the summer transfer window is regarded as a player they could target in 2027. Branthwaite has struggled through injury and loss of form over the past couple of seasons, with a hamstring problem restricting him to just seven starts last term. He has played every minute of Everton’s Premier League campaign to date this season, however, and this has been enough to convince United that he is a player worth tracking. The Toffees are determined not to lose the England star, and according to TeamTalk , have placed an incredible €93 million (£80m) price tag on him. Will Everton’s lavish Branthwaite demands put off Man Utd? Manchester United will simply not consider a move at Everton’s asking price. Co-owners Ineos have made a drive to ensure value for money, and while Branthwaite may be an attractive signing, at the price being asked, he loses much of his appeal. To put into context Everton’s demands: Branthwaite would become the most expensive centre-back ever if a deal was done at this price. The current record stands at €90m, which Manchester City paid RB Leipzig to secure Josko Gvardiol . Harry Maguire, meanwhile, remains second on the list when he arrived at Old Trafford from Leicester for €87m in 2019 – a relic of the old prices that the Glazers would pay and a model that Ineos are desperately trying to move away from. United, meanwhile, have little reason to pay €90m or more for Branthwaite – or anything close to it. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €30.2m, and while this is likely to go up as he regains fitness, it has never previously cracked the €40m ceiling in the ball-playing defender’s career. Meanwhile, if Everton are truly serious about retaining Branthwaite, he is under contract until 2030, so they are in a strong position to dictate terms. Why Branthwaite is a gamble worth considering for Man Utd But there is another side to this story: one that is less financial and more about making Michael Carrick’s squad stronger. Branthwaite may not be a €90m player, but he would immediately offer an upgrade to Man Utd’s defence, according to leading data analytics firm SciSports. It gives players a SciSkill score based on hundreds of in-game data points, and according to this, the left-sided defender stands clear of Man Utd’s other centre-backs. United’s options in this area are all roughly the same standard, according to SciSports, but Branthwaite stands above Carrick’s current options – and will only get better in the future. Indeed, he could be the leader of a young core of Man Utd defenders in the decade to come. Leny Yoro remains the player with the highest ceiling, SciSports reports, but Branthwaite would come second and Ayden Heaven’s potential is also very high. Man Utd's centre-back options (inc Branthwaite) NameSciSkillPotentialJarrad Branthwaite103.1115.4Matthijs de Ligt97.3107.4Luke Shaw94.999.1Leny Yoro93.5127.9Lisandro Martinez93.297.7Harry Maguire81.984.7Ayden Heaven68.6107.5 Verdict: Risk-averse Man Utd likely to shy away from big-money deal This is a risk-averse Manchester United board, though, and at €90m the Branthwaite deal is a non-starter, particularly for a player who saw so much of last season wiped out because of injury. The Red Devils are no longer easily parted with big transfer fees, and even if there is an understanding that the defence needs reshaped, value for money will be one of the key drivers of any eventual transfer decision. Branthwaite will certainly come into the equation and should be a player they study closely, but even his undoubted quality may not be enough to take him to Man Utd in 2027 given Everton’s early stance over the player.