Man Utd have secret weapon on the way to seal blockbuster Jarrad Branthwaite transfer

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s return to Manchester United may help them seal a mega-money transfer for Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite. The former Red Devils striker, who has been linked with a coaching role at Old Trafford, was Branthwaite’s manager during the defender’s loan spell at PSV.

Van Nistelrooy played an important role in the England international’s development. Branthwaite has previously talked about how he was unleashed at PSV in the second half of the 2022-23 season.

“He was brilliant for me,” the 21-year-old said of Van Nistelrooy last year.

“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 back here [to Everton] and, having hardly played, I said I wasn’t 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.’”

Van Nistelrooy was a big fan of Branthwaite and picked out his ability on and off the ball as key qualities. The 47-year-old, who left PSV at the end of that campaign, might be able to convince Branthwaite to join United if he completes his own switch to the Premier League club.

“I don’t have to introduce him to the public now because he’s doing fantastic at Everton, obviously,” he said.

“He had fantastic development in the season, especially in the second half. He showed great quality on and off the ball. The touches he has with the left and right in the build-up but also defensively, the duels he was winning and the pace he has.

“We like to press high and be high up the pitch, be on the halfway line and he wasn’t afraid to do that.”

United are desperate to complete a move for Branthwaite. A bid in the region of £35million has been rejected by the Toffees. Red Devils chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe has insisted that he will not overpay for new players.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reports that Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for United, is keen on the idea of linking up with countryman Erik ten Hag. He has also held talks with Burnley over replacing Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor.