Manchester United have reignited their interest in Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite as they face serious defensive dilemmas. The Red Devils reportedly contacted the player's representatives, weighing up a move for the 24-year-old either in the January transfer window or next summer.
Last summer, United made two attempts to acquire the defender, offering as much as £50 million, but both bids were rebuffed by the Toffees. Subsequently, the club shifted their focus to Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich.
That plan has now faltered as de Ligt's availability has been severely hampered due to a complicated back surgery that kept him off the pitch for nearly a year. Compounding matters, both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are set to see their contracts expire next summer. While United do possess options to automatically extend both players' contracts by an additional 12 months, the club is still keen to rejuvenate their defence with a fresh, young leader.
