Manchester United co-owner had picked out one Premier League star as a potential signing since his Old Trafford arrival but it appears that his wish is set to be denied for the time being
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid to sign Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite will now have to wait after he committed his future to the Merseyside club. The Manchester United co-owner has long been an admirer of the defender.
The Red Devils had a number of bids rejected for his services last year, while they also managed to agree personal terms with Branthwaite. That was despite United chiefs believing that funds would be low.
Ratcliffe was willing to loosen the purse strings for Branthwaite but he will now not be moving any time soon having signed a new five-year deal with Everton. The 23-year-old is now tied down to his current side until 2030.
Speaking about his new deal, Branthwaite said: “I’m over the moon. It's been something we've been talking about since the end of the season and to get it signed now is something I'm really excited about.
“The trust the Club's put in me and how many games I've played over the past two seasons has made it quite an easy decision for me to stay and to keep progressing as a player.
“I know the Club. I feel loved by the players – we’ve got a good group here – and the fans. Over the past few years, I’ve seen the impact the fans have on us as a team and how much it means to them. And, obviously, with the new stadium we’ve got here, the new ownership and the new manager, it's an exciting project and it's something I want to be part of.
“Moving to the new stadium together and having that first game at home is something we’re all looking forward to. We want to go again and push for a good season.”
“I’ve been at Everton for five-and-a-half years now and I've seen the change the Club's had over the past six months,” he added “It's very exciting for us as a team, as players, to have that going on in the background and obviously to be starting the new season at the new stadium.
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“The ambition was a huge thing. The way the manager wants us to go as a team and what he wants us to do for next season and where he wants us to challenge for has had a big impact on the decision. I think you saw towards the end of last season as a team what we can do.
“The manager has been really good, not only for me but for the group. You saw the change in results, the change in mood since he came in. He drives the demands every day to be better.”
United now have a decision to make over their defence. The Red Devils spent heavily last summer at centre-back with the signings of Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt. But they now have a potential vacancy with both Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof having left the side.