Everton’s £70 million valuation for their talented centre-back is much higher than Man Utd are currently willing to pay

Manchester United are hoping to strike a deal with Everton for Jarrad Branthwaite, having agreed personal terms with the England defender.

United are also looking to sign Leny Yoro, despite stiff competition for the Lille centre-back.

Everton are demanding at least £70 million for Branthwaite, which is significantly more than United’s asking price, but the Manchester club is hoping for a compromise.

United have identified Branthwaite, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man England Euros squad, as a primary transfer target following Raphael Varane’s departure.

However, they could sign another centre-back if Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof leave this summer, with Yoro of particular interest.

Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the highly regarded 18-year-old defender, but Real Madrid is thought to be the most likely destination if he leaves Lille this summer. He has one year left on his contract and will become a free agent at the end of the season.

Other central defenders United has looked at include Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, and Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah. Jonny Evans is likely to be given a one-year contract extension to provide centre-back cover for another season.

United’s summer priorities include a center-back, a holding midfielder, and a striker. They are very interested in Joshua Zirkzee but will face stiff competition for the Bologna striker.

Following Antony Martial’s departure, Rasmus Hojlund is now the only senior out-and-out striker available to manager Erik ten Hag.

Zirkee isn’t the only forward on United’s radar, but they’re one of several clubs considering triggering his €40 million (£33.8 million) release clause.

AC Milan and Juventus are also big fans of the 23-year-old, and it remains to be seen whether United’s interest prompts Arsenal to make a move after their top target, Benjamin Sesko, decided to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig. The Telegraph Sport first reported Arsenal’s interest in Zirkzee in January.

Bayern Munich could further complicate the situation surrounding Zirkzee if they decide to exercise a buyback clause they included when selling the 6ft 4in Dutchman to Bologna in August 2022.

United, who were comfortably the lowest scorers among the Premier League’s top eight last season and finished with a negative difference, understand the need to strengthen in attack and believe Zirkzee’s age, profile, and price fit the bill.

Zirkzee was a late addition to the Netherlands squad on Wednesday after Ajax striker Brian Brobbey suffered an injury scare in training and learned the news while on vacation in Walt Disney World, Florida.

Zirkzee, who has yet to represent the Netherlands at the senior level, played a key role in Bologna’s Champions League qualification last season, scoring 11 goals in 34 Serie A appearances, and is highly regarded by manager Thiago Motta.

He frequently impressed as a false nine in Motta’s system, and despite his size, he is an accomplished dribbler who can drop and run from deep, is comfortable with both feet, and is skilled at holding up the play and bringing teammates into action.

United has a net budget of around £50 million this summer, plus whatever cash they can raise through sales, so outgoings will have a significant impact on the number of players they can sign.

Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho are two players United are actively looking to sell because they believe they can fetch high enough prices to reinvest in the squad, with each forward valued at £40 million. Given Greenwood’s status as an academy graduate, any sale of the books would result in pure profit.