Man Utd dealt transfer blow as potential swap deal 'snubbed' by Premier League rivals

Manchester United won’t be able to use Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Viktor Lindelof as part of a potential deal to sign Jarrad Branthwaite. The Red Devils will have to fork out more money to land the defender this summer and the Toffees aren’t interested in their pair as a swap deal, as per a report by the Liverpool Echo.

United are keen to land Branthwaite in this transfer window to bolster their defensive department. They would like to freshen up their ranks and inject some more youthful energy into their squad. The 22-year-old, who missed out on England’s squad for Euro 2024, joined Everton back in 2020. Prior to his move to Goodison Park, he rose into the first-team of local side Carlisle United in the Football League.

He was loaned out by the Merseyside outfit to Blackburn Rovers and PSV to get some experience under his belt. Branthwaite has since become one of thier key players under Sean Dyche and has made 54 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with four goals from the back.

Former United man Ruud van Nistelrooy worked with him at PSV and is a big fan. He has recently said: "He is a great talent. The boy is young, but he has a future. "He is good on the ball, can play on the left or the right of centre-back because he is two-footed. He has height and speed, so he is very complete."

The player himself enjoyed life playing for the Dutchman and said: "He was brilliant for me. At the midpoint in the season, I hadn't played as much as I would have liked.

"I had a clause in my contract where I could have come spot and said I was not sure what I was going to do. He sat me down for half an hour and said I was going to play every game in the second half of the season. At the time, I was like, 'You can say that, but how am I meant to believe you?' We were on a winter break, I was on holiday, and he kept ringing me every day, saying, 'Trust me, you are going to play'."

Branthwaite would fit the bill for United as he is young, has bags of potential and has already played quite a few games at the top level.

However, Everton won’t be held to ransom and will wait for the right offer to come in for his signature before deciding whether they will cash in on him or not. He penned a new long-term deal last year running until June 2027.

In terms of Wan-Bissaka and Lindelof, it would be a surprise to see them stay at Old Trafford for next term. Offloading them would be a shrewd move by the Red Devils over the next couple of months and it would help free up space and funds in their ranks. Everton don’t want them though so United will need to find alternative new homes for the pair.