Manchester United are reportedly ready to make a £60 million bid for their next transfer target once they complete the signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
United are poised to sign both De Ligt and Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, with deals valued at £43 million and £17 million, respectively. The defenders arrived in Manchester on Monday morning to undergo medical examinations at United’s Carrington training ground and finalize their contracts.
The duo will be United’s third and fourth signings of the summer, joining centre-back Leny Yoro from Lille and striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
Given the number of injuries United defenders faced last season, it’s not surprising that three of their four new signings this summer are defenders. However, with Yoro expected to be out for the next three months due to a foot injury sustained in pre-season, United may not be finished with their transfer activity.
According to Football Insider, United are preparing a £60 million bid for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. United have been long-time admirers of the 21-year-old and previously had offers of £35 million plus add-ons and £50 million rejected earlier this summer.
Football Insider reports that United are optimistic Everton will accept this latest bid despite the new Premier League season starting this weekend. Although Everton values the England international at approximately £80 million, they might accept a lower offer, especially since Branthwaite is said to have already agreed to personal terms with United worth £160,000 a week.
If Everton accepts an offer of £60 million, it would bring United’s total spending to £207.5 million in their first summer transfer window since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became a minority owner of the club.
United had been interested in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte but are now exploring other options after declining to meet PSG’s £51 million asking price.
United will start the 2024-25 Premier League season with a match against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday, August 16.
