MANCHESTER UNITED hope to steal a march in the chase for Jarrad Branthwaite — as soon as Jason Wilcox arrives.
United intend to make Wilcox their new transfer guru and are confident of brokering a compensation deal with Southampton, where he has been football director, within days.
And they believe his previous close working relationship with Branthwaite’s agent David Reeves will put them in pole position for Everton’s highly-rated centre-back.
United want to make the 21-year-old one of their marquee signings in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s rebuild.
A fee of more than £80million has been mentioned but United need to boost their backline.
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Branthwaite has been the shining light in a nightmare season for Everton and was named in England’s squad for last month’s Wembley friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.
Branthwaite did not make his Three Lions debut after being left on the bench.
But the centre-back is widely seen as the future of England’s defence.
Recent reports also suggest United are now lining up a bid amid doubts over the futures of Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire.
Both players are out of contract in 2025, with Varane a target for clubs in Saudi Arabia.
As for Maguire, there is an option to extend his deal until 2026.
But West Ham are ready to lure him to London with the offer of first-team football.
And with new United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe ready to trim the fat, both players could be sold to make room for fresh faces.
Branthwaite would certainly fit the bill, having already impressed on loan at Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.
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He has appeared 28 times for the club in what has been a turbulent season.
The centre half scored his first goal for the club with a dramatic late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Spurs.
