Man Utd have 'decided' their top transfer target for 2025 as poor form under Erik ten Hag continues

Manchester United have decided their top transfer target for 2025, it has been claimed.

United have endured an underwhelming start to the new campaign, having endured draws against Crystal Palace and FC Twente in the past week alone.

Amid the club’s on-field troubles, HITC has claimed that United remain interested in signing Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite in 2025.

The England international was the subject of a United bid in the summer, but Everton insisted the 22-year-old was not for sale.

United allegedly agreed personal terms with Branthwaite, before opting to sign Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt at centre-back instead.

While the latter has replaced Maguire in United’s starting XI the former endured an injury weeks into his Old Trafford career.

However, HITC has claimed United interest in Branthwaite remains concrete and they fully plan on moving for him again.

United sporting director Dan Ashworth was allegedly in full agreement with the club’s initial approach for Branthwaite and is focused on pursuing the defender next year.

The Old Trafford side are reportedly set to move on from Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire next summer, with both out of contract and unlikely to be offered extensions at this point.

Branthwaite won his first England cap this summer (Getty)

United are said to be doing their due diligence on a range of options, with Branthwaite their stand-out target in central defence.

However, Everton are allegedly looking to tie down Branthwaite to a new contract and hope that the announcement that Roma owner Dan Friedkin has agreed a deal to takeover the club will persuade the defender to sign a fresh deal.

Everton are said to be prepared to make Branthwaite among their top earners should he extend his current deal, which runs until 2027.

United host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, before a trip to Porto for their next Europa League fixture the following Thursday.