Man Utd 'send Everton threat' as INEOS put fresh transfer strategy into action

Manchester United have threatened to walk away from the negotiation table if they can’t agree on a compromise with Everton for Jarrad Branthwaite, according to reports. The Red Devils have made Branthwaite one of their priority targets at the start of the INEOS era but are unlikely to meet Everton’s £70million asking price.

United have reportedly agreed personal terms with the 21-year-old defender after identifying him as their preferred long-term Raphael Varane replacement.

But INEOS have already seen a bid worth £43m rejected by Everton, who need to raise funds before submitting their financial records on June 30.

The Toffees were on the wrong end of two separate points deductions last season and remain under serious pressure to adhere to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Sporting director Kevin Thelwell and manager Sean Dyche have admitted they will have to sell players to stay afloat, with Amadou Onana also strongly linked with a move away.

However, the Mirror report that Everton have made it clear that they won’t be bullied into offloading Branthwaite for a cut-price fee despite the mounting pressure.

They are said to have pointed towards United splashing £80m to sign Harry Maguire, as well as Manchester City paying £77m for Josko Gvardiol, as a reference.

The Red Devils are unlikely to meet Everton’s demands, though, and it’s claimed that they have threatened to abandon talks if they can’t find a solution soon.

INEOS are determined to implement a more efficient recruitment operation after inheriting total control of sporting decisions in February.

United have been heavily criticised for wasteful spending across the lacklustre decade after Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2013 retirement.

It has left the club working with a limited budget this summer, hampered further by a failure to qualify for the Champions League.

United’s early movements for Branthwaite and Lille’s Leny Yoro indicate that supporters can expect improvement in how the club goes about recruitment under the new regime.

INEOS’ no-nonsense approach will lead to them moving onto their first alternative target if Everton appear unlikely to budge on what they consider an unrealistic fee.

The report names Yoro, Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Juventus’ Gleison Bremer, Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio as potential fall-back options.

How long United will commit to negotiations with Everton over Branthwaite’s signature before moving on remains to be seen.

But the England international is clearly among the top targets at Old Trafford at the dawn of a monumental rebuild on and off the pitch.