Manchester United's decision to sign Leny Yoro has only strengthened Everton's position on Jarrad Branthwaite.
Everton turned down two bids of $55.9million and $65m from United for Branthwaite before the club agreed a fee that could rise to $80m with Lille for Yoro. Branthwaite, 21, is valued at between $91m and $104m by Everton, while the 18 year old Yoro is joining United for an initial $67m.
It's understood that figures at Everton are surprised United have agreed such a high fee for a defender three years younger than Branthwaite who is out of contract next year, has no international experience and plays in Ligue 1. United sources mentioned a budget of "tens of millions" behind their opening offer of $45m plus $10.4m in add-ons for Branthwaite last month.
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External sources suggest United have "plenty" to spend as two of their highest earners, Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial, were let go and the club have received fees for Alvaro Fernandez, Donny van de Beek and Willy Kambwala, with Mason Greenwood expected to leave for nearly £30m.
Yoro was left out of the France Under-23 squad for the Olympics in Paris later this month, while Branthwaite was dropped from Gareth Southgate's provisional England squad for the European Championship. Branthwaite earned his first cap against Bosnia and Herzegovina last month.
Everton's young star Jarrad Branthwaite, who penned a new deal until 2027 last year, is at the centre of a valuation debate at Goodison Park. The Toffees are citing the hefty fees splashed by United, Chelsea and Manchester City on Harry Maguire ($104m), Wesley Fofana ($97.5m) and Josko Gvardiol ($100m) over recent years to back their price tag for Branthwaite.
Meanwhile, Everton are close to offloading Amadou Onana to Aston Villa in a deal worth $65m. The Red Devils have a history of causing friction with Everton in the transfer arena, notably when they made a combined $36m bid for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini back in 2013.
The Merseyside club slammed that bid as "derisory and insulting". In the end, United only secured Fellaini on deadline day for $35.7m, despite the Belgian having a cheaper release clause of $30.5m earlier in the same window.
Liverpool.com says: Manchester united has a history for signing players for well above their transfer value, which is where Liverpool has usually succeeded. Michael Edwards is unlikely to sanction any sort of transfer fee in the same region as Yoro's this summer, whereas United is set to continue spending.
Everton can haggle all it wants, but time will tell if the club folds under the pressure.
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