Manchester United 'make Jarrad Branthwaite top defensive target'

Manchester United have reportedly made Jarrad Branthwaite their number one defensive transfer target for 2024.

The 21-year-old has become a regular in the Everton side this season, forming a partnership with stand-in captain James Tarkowski in the centre of defence.

Branthwaite has played every league game for the Toffees since Sean Dyche drafted him into the side against Wolverhampton Wanderers in August, keeping the more experienced Michael Keane out of the starting XI.

With the defender now being touted as a possible future England international, he captained the Under-21 side at Goodison Park last week for their 3-0 win over Northern Ireland.

Now, TEAMtalk claims that Branthwaite is top of the Man United shortlist in their search for a new defender.

Erik ten Hag has had difficulties with his defence this season, with players lacking form and a number of injuries have left his squad threadbare at times.

Lisandro Martinez is currently a long-term absentee, while Jonny Evans is also currently sidelined after sustaining an injury in Copenhagen.

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Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane have only recently made returns of their own from injury, but the latter is potentially on his way out after falling out of favour with the manager.

Varane's possible departure could open the door for an incoming defender, and Branthwaite is not the only option who has been linked.

The report also states that Jean-Clair Todibo, Antonio Silva and Goncalo Inacio are also being scouted by Man United.

Todibo playing for Nice, the club owned by Jim Ratcliffe, suggests that a deal could be much more simple to get done, given the potential new relationship between the two sides.

Silva and Inacio are also gaining traction, having both become regular internationals for Portugal over the last year, with none of the targets likely to come cheap.

Everton's well-documented financial troubles could see them be forced into selling Branthwaite should the right offer come in though.

The club have had to part ways with both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon in the past 18 months in order to balance the books, and even those sales did not help them to become more active in the transfer market.