Manchester United given Liverpool hijack instruction with 'easy' £80m transfer decision

Everton are seemingly ready to play hard ball over Jarrad Branthwaite as Manchester United continue to pursue a potential deal for the England defender. However, with such an eye-watering £80million fee said to be demanded for his signature, United ought to go with Gareth Southgate's gut feeling instead.

Branthwaite is certainly a top-level player in the making. The 22-year-old is well known to the returning Ruud van Nistelrooy from their time together at PSV Eindhoven and the centre-back - nurtured in some part by that spell in the Eredivisie - boasts a playing style typically aligned the Dutch.

His comfort on the ball is a particular asset - and a driving force for interest from Erik ten Hag and those above his head - but £80million for a man with one senior cap to his name is a mighty figure even if United are convinced he will become a regular fixture on the international stage in years to come.

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Especially so when an alternative option one step further down the line could be available at a similar price.

England went so close yet so far at Euro 2024 this summer. Despite some underwhelming performances - certainly in the group stage and early knockout rounds - Southgate's Three Lions reached a second major final in three years and went closer than anyone else before to finally bringing it home.

A few kicks away from sporting immortality, England were ultimately left crushed by a brilliant Spain team and the boys of 1966 remain on a pedestal all of their own. It has to be said, though, any finger-pointing and heavy criticism along the way typically focused on a lack of spark in attacking quarters.

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