Man Utd eye two rising stars in bid to bolster defence

Jacque Talbot

31 Jul 2023 15:10 BST
3 min read

Jean-Clair Todibo, Nice, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Manchester United are looking at Jean-Clair Todibo and Jarrad Branthwaite as possible targets to boost their defence this summer window.

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The Daily Mail reports that the side are in the hunt for a centre-back still and that Erik ten Hag is a huge admirer of both players.

Everton's young talent Branthwaite was looked by Liverpool, as we revealed in January, but he gave some brilliant displays for PSV Eindhoven.

He is a rising star despite only playing a handful of appearances for Everton. Indeed, Branthwaite spent the previous season on loan in the Netherlands, showcasing his skills at PSV. His impressive performances earned him praise from football legend Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Todibo has become something of a star in recent years, playing a pivotal part of Nice’s rise. The same report states that Man Utd are actively searching for a goalkeeper, a centre-back, and midfield reinforcements ahead of the new season.

It is thought that Toffees may need to offload players before making new signings, and they could fetch a fair sum for their young defender.

Harry Maguire's future

Harry Maguire remains at Man Utd after they turned down a £20million bid from West Ham. It’s not clear whether the side will come back in again with another offer, but the sounds are that his current side would be willing to sell for the right price.

The defender was stripped of his captaincy earlier this year by Ten Hag and his future remains unclear at Old Trafford.

Reports have stated that Maguire could leave but the side want to see a return of £40m or so.

The trouble that they face is that Maguire is on a salary of around £200k per week and not many clubs would be willing to pay such a large fee on top of his salary.