UNITED AGREE PERSONAL TERMS WITH BRAITHWAITE – Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is linked to Manchester United

Manchester United have agreed personal terms with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, with the Merseysiders valuing the 21-year-old at at least £80m. United intend to speak to Everton about Branthwaite after the transfer window opens this week.

Everton are said to not want to sell Branthwaite, whom many believe was unlucky to miss out on selection for England’s European Championship squad.

The club believes it is just a matter of time before Branthwaite becomes an England regular and rates him in the same bracket as Harry Maguire and Josko Gvardiol. Maguire cost United £80m when he joined from Leicester in 2019. Gvardiol cost Manchester City £77m when he moved from RB Leipzig last summer.

Branthwaite has caught the eye with a series of impressive performances as a left-sided central defender for Everton, helping the Merseyside club to avoid relegation last season despite two-point deductions for breaching rules limiting financial losses.