Jarrad Branthwaite is not intending to sign a new deal at Everton unless they can match the £160,000-a-week being offered by Manchester United.
Everton have placed a £70million valuation on the centre back and rejected two bids from United with the last offer being £50m.
The 22-year-old still has three years left on his current contract, understood to be worth around £70,000-a-week, but Everton are ready to offer new terms to reflect his worth to Sean Dyche’s team.
Talks have still to take place over new figures with those negotiations more likely to be at the end of the window but Mail Sport understands Branthwaite is prepared to hold off extending his time at Everton unless they can get close to United’s proposal.
For their part, Manchester United have stepped back from transfer talks for now after sporting director Dan Ashworth’s last conversation with his Everton counterpart Kevin Thelwell.
Man United have had two bids for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite knocked back
Sean Dyche wants to keep Branthwaite and Everton are ready to offer him a new contract
Branthwaite doesn’t intend to extend his deal unless Everton match the wages offered by Erik ten Hag’s side
Everton underlined that £45m plus £5m in add ons was never going to be enough and that United would have to get closer to £70m before bids could be taken seriously.
They have since signed Leny Yoro for £52m but, as planned all summer, still want another centre back, as well as a full-back, midfielder and forward depending on outgoings.
Branthwaite was a surprise omission from Gareth Southgate’s European Championships squad after a standout season alongside James Tarkowski at the heart of Everton’s defence and United are not alone in admiring his potential.
However, while speculation over his future continues to build, Branthwaite has been back training with his Everton teammates who have been on a camp in Ireland, but he did not figure in the 3-3 draw with Sligo Rovers last weekend.
Everton saw their latest takeover talks with Friedkin Group fall through but remain optimistic new suitors will find a resolution and they continue attempts to rebuild their squad.
Talks are expected to conclude on a loan deal with Napoli for winger Jesper Lindstrom over the next 24 hours following the Denmark international’s medical and they maintain interest in Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips, as revealed by Mail Sport in May. They are also in the market for another centre back.
