Manchester United’s defensive frailties have been laid bare once again this season, with the club conceding eight goals in their opening five Premier League games.
The departures of Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, combined with Harry Maguire’s advancing years, have left Ruben Amorim short of options at the back.
The Red Devils are expected to make defensive reinforcements a priority in January, and according to Caught Offside, they are preparing a £60 million bid to sign Everton’s highly-rated centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite.
The 23-year-old has long been admired across the league and was previously linked with Liverpool, who remain keen on the England international.
Liverpool monitoring the situation closely
Liverpool, meanwhile, are also weighing up their options at centre-back. With Virgil van Dijk entering the twilight years of his career, Ibrahima Konate attracting interest from Real Madrid, and Giovanni Leoni sidelined with a serious ACL injury, Arne Slot may be tempted to accelerate his defensive plans in January.
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has been Liverpool’s primary target, but with the possibility of signing him as a free agent next summer, the Reds could turn their focus to Branthwaite if the right opportunity arises.
Everton are reluctant to lose a key player, but with the defender tied down until 2030, any deal is expected to command a significant fee.
A transfer tug-of-war looming
Branthwaite has been widely praised for his composure and leadership, with Jamie Carragher previously describing him as a ‘special’ talent.
Manchester United see him as an ideal long-term solution to their defensive issues, while Liverpool could view him as a central figure for the next era at Anfield.
At £60 million, the price tag appears steep but not unrealistic for one of the Premier League’s brightest young defenders. Both clubs are likely to weigh the value of making a decisive move in January rather than risk missing out to a rival later.
Whether Everton are prepared to sanction such a deal mid-season remains to be seen, but with United ready to bid and Liverpool monitoring closely, the next transfer window could spark a Merseyside-Manchester showdown for one of English football’s most sought-after defenders.
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