Man Utd & Real Madrid among admirers of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite

Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is being tracked by both Manchester United and Real Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window, 90min understands.

Branthwaite joined Everton from Carlisle United in 2020 and, after a handful of successful loan spells away from the club, is now enjoying his first full season at Goodison Park. The 21-year-old has started 25 times in the Premier League and has earned significant praise for his performances.

Sources have confirmed to 90min that Madrid and United are among the admirers of Branthwaite, who inked a new four-year contract in October to commit himself to Everton until 2027.

While centre-back is not a priority area for Madrid in the coming transfer window, United are determined to bolster at the back and scouts have been scouring Europe for months to try and identify possible targets.

Branthwaite has impressed United officials but sources stress that INEOS, who are in control of the club's transfer business after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's purchase of a 28% share in the club, are still yet to draw up a concrete list of targets.

They are aware of potential names they have inherited from the previous regime and one of them, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, is already endorsed. But Ratcliffe and his team haven't progressed yet much further than that - the priority is first to determine key positions and budgets and build out their recruitment team.

Everton are expected to demand upwards of £70m to part ways with Branthwaite, although their final asking price is a long way from being formalised. On the pitch, the Toffees remain on the fringes of a relegation battle which will go a long way to defining their stance on selling Branthwaite, but Everton are also awaiting a resolution in 777 Partners' attempts to buy the club from Farhad Moshiri and are therefore yet to determine their approach to the summer transfer window.

Just how much Everton end up demanding for Branthwaite will go a long way to deciding United's next move, with the Red Devils also waiting for the outcome of their push for Champions League qualification before deciding in which direction to go.

United will also have to clear some room in defence. Erik ten Hag's squad currently includes five senior centre-backs, although Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are on expiring contracts and both Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire have been linked with exits.

As for Madrid, the Spanish giants have been impressed by Branthwaite but are not currently prepared to spend a significant fee on a new centre-back as they head into a summer which should see Kylian Mbappe join on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid hope to follow Mbappe's signing with a move for Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, with a move for a new centre-back only likely if there is enough money left over.

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