Man United want 'amazing' £70m Premier League star as clear Lisandro Martinez upgrade
Manchester United retain a long-term interest in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite as Michael Carrick has one eye on the January window.
United invested heavily in their midfield during the summer transfer window and neglected their defence, with Carrick feeling the impact of INEOS not splashing the cash on more defensive reinforcements.
The Red Devils have conceded seven goals across their opening four Premier League matches, four of which were against newly promoted teams, Hull City and Ipswich Town, which only highlighted where they need to improve ahead of January.
Man United still want Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Carrick has started with a defensive duo of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez in their last three top-flight matches, but the pair are potentially coming towards the end of their careers at Old Trafford.
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Their contracts expire in June 2027, and it isn't guaranteed they will renew their deals, meaning the importance of investing in that position is arguably bigger than ever.
Encouragingly for United, it appears they're already looking ahead to the January transfer window, with talkSPORT revealing that the 13-time Premier League champions 'retain an interest' in Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite.
The Red Devils had two offers for Branthwaite rejected in the summer of 2024, and the Englishman has since watched his progress get hampered by injury, spending the majority of the 2025/26 campaign sidelined.
But the 24-year-old has now returned to full fitness and is back performing at his best, producing exceptional displays alongside James Tarkowski in their opening four matches.
Branthwaite has also inspired the Toffees to clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, while showcasing his tremendous defensive qualities and ability to distribute the ball.
United want to add the Carlisle-born defender to their backline for those two reasons, as they plan a major overhaul to their backline in 2027.
Two years ago, Everton were said to be holding out for around £70million for Branthwaite, and with his contract not expiring until June 2030, it wouldn't be surprising if they wanted a similar fee.
How Jarrad Branthwaite compares to Lisandro Martinez
When asked about his partnership with Branthwaite, Tarkowski waxed lyrical over his teammate, labelling him "amazing" and praising his sought-after attributes.
“We’ve sort of worked on that in time and Jazz is an amazing partner to have next to you. He’s as strong as an ox, rapid, brilliant on the ball, two-footed and communicates really well," Tarkowski said after their goalless draw with Spurs.
"Last year it was difficult for him. He didn’t play many games and missed a lot of football, but he’s come back fit and flying, and you see tonight the quality he’s got, the amount of tackles and blocks he makes, but also, he’s very composed and comfortable on the ball. So hopefully that continues for him.”
Unsurprisingly, Tarkowski's praise is backed up by the statistics, as he's outperforming United star Martinez, who is likely to leave the club next summer unless he gets given a new contract.
Branthwaite has averaged more defensive contributions than the Argentine this term, according to FotMob, while making more tackles, interceptions, and winning more aerial duels per game.
Clearly, Everton's No. 4 would be a huge upgrade on Martinez, but the biggest problem is whether they can afford to pay the asking price.
Topics: Everton, Premier League, Transfer News, Michael Carrick
Thomas Griffin