Manchester United have made a substantial opening bid of £43 million for Everton's promising defender, Jarrad Branthwaite. The Red Devils have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with the 21-year-old center back, but Everton is expected to reject the offer as they value the player at a significantly higher price of £70 million.

The proposal put forth by United includes a fixed fee of £35 million with an additional £8 million in add-ons, contingent on certain milestones being achieved by either the player or the club. Everton's stance on Branthwaite is influenced, in part, by their desire to sell midfielder Amadou Onana to address profit and sustainability concerns. Everton aims to make a profit on Onana, who was acquired from Lille in 2022 for £34 million and is now valued at over £50 million.

Social media platforms were abuzz with reactions to the news. One user humorously commented, "Then he never played well again and we all lived happily ever after," while another questioned the strategic fit by stating, "Wasn't the priority a right-footed CB to complement L. Martinez given the departure of Varane?" Some fans took a jab at Manchester United's transfer dealings, with one user jokingly calling out the "United-tax" phenomenon and another highlighting the discrepancy in price compared to previous acquisitions. However, there were also voices emphasizing Branthwaite's talent, suggesting that non-Everton fans may underestimate his abilities.

As speculation fills the air surrounding Branthwaite's potential transfer, Manchester United's bid stands as an opening move in what promises to be an intriguing transfer saga in the upcoming weeks.