Manchester United has a long-standing interest in Jarrad Branthwaite and may pursue the Everton stalwart at the end of the season.

Branthwaite’s efforts for the Toffees throughout a turbulent season have quickly elevated him to one of Europe’s hottest prospects, and while his club will do all in their power to keep him long-term, they will be well aware of how difficult it will be in the summer.

Not only does Everton have little wiggle room around financial constraints, which could compel them to sell their more expensive assets, but their Premier League status is already in jeopardy following a 10-point deduction that dropped the Blues to the bottom three. They are now in 17th place.

An up-and-coming starlet like Branthwaite, who is already being projected for a senior England call-up, is unlikely to want to play below the top level.

This is where United, Tottenham Hotspur, and even Real Madrid come in. The trio are said to have expressed an interest in the 21-year-old and were not deterred by his four-year contract extension in October 2023; his £35,000-a-week terms mean he is officially tied down to the Goodison Park club until June 2027.