David Ornstein has confirmed a Manchester United transfer is hanging by a thread unless they pay over the odds, while Dan Ashworth has put a tempting six-year contract to an alternative who looks equally difficult to sign.
The transfer action is coming thick and fast at Old Trafford, with new sporting director Dan Ashworth working on no fewer than FIVE major signings.
Striker Joshua Zirkzee was the first to arrive, with Man Utd confirming the Dutchman’s transfer on Sunday afternoon.
United will pay €42.5m over a three-year span and Zirkzee has signed a five-year deal with a club option for a sixth season.
Centre-back Matthijs De Ligt is expected to follow Zirkzee through the front doors of Old Trafford. A verbal agreement on personal terms is in place and United have held discussions over the transfer fee with Bayern Munich.
The German powerhouse hope to collect €50m plus add-ons and that is not a demand that will deter Man Utd from finalising a deal.
Elsewhere, another centre-half is wanted as well as a central midfielder to replace Casemiro. PSG’s Manuel Ugarte has given the thumbs up to joining Man Utd and would be expected to line up alongside Kobbie Mainoo if signed.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Leny Yoro latest
The Red Devils have already agreed personal terms with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite who’ll earn around £150,000-a-week if joining Man Utd.
Elsewhere, Man Utd have seen a formal bid worth €50m plus add-ons accepted by Lille for Leny Yoro.
United only intend to sign one of Branthwaite and Yoro and it’s the Everton man who is understood to be their preferred target.
However, Everton are holding out for £70m and Man Utd have already seen two bids rejected. The first was worth £43m (£35m plus £8m in add-ons). The second raised the stakes to £50m (£45m plus £5m in add-ons).
Everton did not hesitate when rejecting both bids and are using the transfers of Wesley Fofana to Chelsea and Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City as yardsticks. But players were a similar age to Branthwaite when moving for fees of £75m-plus.
Man Utd do intend to lodge a third bid for Branthwaite. However, according to trusted reporter David Ornstein, it will stand almost zero chance of being accepted unless Man Utd meet Everton’s top-end valuation.
Taking to X, Ornstein revealed that Everton’s imminent sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa for £50m plus add-ons will embolden the Toffees to retain Branthwaite.
In Ornstein’s words, the Onana transfer “all-but ends any chance of Everton selling Man Utd target Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.”
Ornstein clarified “huge bids” are the only way to change Everton’s mind, though Man Utd have repeatedly insisted they will not overpay for the player.
As such, the likelihood of Branthwaite moving to Old Trafford now looks incredibly slim unless United pay above and beyond what they believe Branthwaite to be worth.
