Manchester United and Tottenham to clash for £70m “Rolls Royce” Premier League defender

Manchester United and Tottenham are both tracking Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The 23-year-old has impressed since breaking into the first team fold at Everton, emerging as one the Premier League’s most promising young defenders.

Amidst continued links with a move away from the club, the player in July he signed a 5 year extension at Everton to keep him at the Merseyside club until 2030.

Caught Offside has reported that Branthwaite, who has been praised by insiders as a “Rolls Royce,” has a value of £70m with both United and Spurs on high alert. United are long term admirers, having tentatively enquired about the player last summer.

Tottenham see the player as an ideal fit for new manager Thomas Frank’s system, as the north London outfit searches for a left-footed centre-back. Branthwaite is understood to be content at Everton and not pushing for a move, and would likely be a difficult deal to do in January.

Branthwaite has yet to feature this season for Everton after picking up a hamstring injury in preseason. He underwent surgery and is now in line to make a return before January. He is a mainstay when fit though, making 75 Premier League appearances for the club.

He has been lauded for his composure and maturity while on the ball, helping his side build from the back. Defensively he is aggressive and commanding, ticking every box as a modern Premier League centre-back.

He became a full England international in 2024, coming on a as substitute in a 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in June. United could have holes to fill over the summer, with the futures of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez continuing to be in doubt.

Chelsea and Real Madrid were also linked with interest in Branthwaite previously.

Nadji is a football writer with over 10 years of experience covering the Premier League. His work has been featured on Football Fancast, Arsenal-Mania, and Arsenal.com, where he has built a reputation for delivering sharp analysis, engaging storytelling, and in-depth coverage of the game.