Manchester United might be forced to abandon their first transfer of the summer window

Everything has a price and it's just what you're willing to pay for it.

Everton value Jarrad Branthwaite between £70million and £80m and Manchester United aren't currently prepared, or able, to increase their bid into that lofty region.

The cash flow at Old Trafford is tighter than in previous summers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's new regime are conscious of how they are perceived in their first window in charge.

Ratcliffe is aware United have wasted over £1billion on scattergun recruitment over the last decade and wants to change the club's reputation in the market. That will take time and many windows, and spending £75m on Branthwaite at the first opportunity would send the wrong message.

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United's first offer of an initial £35m, with a further £8m in add-ons, for Branthwaite was never going to be accepted, although there is still hope an agreement can be reached.

The second bid, which was knocked back this week, offered Everton £45million plus £5m in add-ons for Branthwaite and that was more acceptable, but there's still a difference in opinion.

Understandably, Everton don't want to lose Branthwaite, who has enjoyed just one full season playing first-team football at Goodison Park, and they recently made two sales to comply with the Premier League's suffocating, and likely to change, profitability and sustainability rules.

Everton received £20m from the sales of Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin, which will help them keep hold of Branthwaite. Other clubs in the Premier League have adopted the same policy and sold a few 'lesser' players before June 30, which is the end of the financial year.