Manchester United are looking to gain an advantage in their pursuit of Jarrad Branthwaite by appointing Jason Wilcox as their new transfer guru. Wilcox, who is currently the football director at Southampton, has a close working relationship with Branthwaite’s agent, David Reeves. This connection could put United in pole position to sign the highly-rated Everton centre-back.
United see Branthwaite as one of their marquee signings in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s rebuild of the team. While a fee of over £80 million has been mentioned, United need to strengthen their defense and believe Branthwaite would be a valuable addition.
The 21-year-old has been a standout performer for Everton in what has been a difficult season for the club. He was even named in England’s squad for last month’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, although he did not make his debut. Branthwaite is widely regarded as the future of England’s defense.
Recent reports also suggest that United are considering a bid for Branthwaite due to doubts over the futures of Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire. Both players’ contracts expire in 2025, with Varane attracting interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia. While Maguire has the option to extend his deal until 2026, West Ham are ready to tempt him with the offer of regular first-team football.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking to make changes at United, it is possible that both Varane and Maguire could be sold to make room for new signings. Branthwaite, who has already impressed on loan at PSV Eindhoven, would be a suitable replacement.
In other news, Tommy Tuchel’s recent success with Chelsea has caught the attention of Manchester United. Tuchel managed to guide Chelsea to victory in the Champions League just three months after taking charge of the team. With no new signings, he transformed a struggling side into European champions.
This impressive feat has made Tuchel an attractive option for United, especially as they consider budget cuts under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership. Tuchel has shown that he can achieve great results with limited resources, which would be appealing to a club looking to rebuild.
Overall, Manchester United are actively pursuing Jarrad Branthwaite and are hopeful that the appointment of Jason Wilcox will give them an advantage in negotiations. Additionally, they are keeping an eye on the situation with Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, while also considering the possibility of hiring Tommy Tuchel as their next manager. These moves reflect United’s ambition to strengthen their squad and return to winning ways under new ownership.