Everton has Jarrad Branthwaite to Man Utd transfer belief after completing $65M deal

Everton is growing increasingly confident of keeping Jarrad Branthwaite out of Manchester United' s clutches, following the agreement to sell Amadou Onana to Aston Villa for a hefty $65 million (£50 million).

Onana has settled on personal terms with Villa and is set to undergo his medical this week. Everton initially shelled out $44 million (£34 million) to Lille for the Belgian midfielder two years ago, and his departure reduces the pressure to cash in on Branthwaite.

The Toffees turned down United's second offer of an initial $58.4 million (£45 million) last week, standing firm that the 22-year-old England center-back is valued at no less than $90.8 million (£70 million). According to the Mirror , the club is increasingly of the belief it can keep Branthwaite after selling Onana.

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Onana, also 22, was notably absent when Everton jetted off to Ireland yesterday for their week-long training camp, which will conclude with a friendly against Seamus Coleman's former club, Sligo Rovers, on Friday.

Both Branthwaite and Dele Alli were in attendance, with the latter, a former England star and now a free agent, hoping to secure a new contract at Everton . Alli's previous deal ran out at the end of last month, and he needed just seven more appearances for the Blues to activate a £10million payment to his old club Tottenham, as per the terms of his transfer in January 2022.

However, Spurs have agreed to forego this sum as it was a clause in Alli's previous contract, and the midfielder, who last featured for the Blues in August 2022, is nearly back to full fitness after a groin strain kept him out for the entirety of last season.

Everton has already secured the signings of Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye since the summer transfer window swung open last month, with more likely to follow. The Blues were among several clubs eyeing Hull City's Jaden Philogene, but it seems the 22-year-old is set for a return to Aston Villa - a year after being let go by Unai Emery's team.