Jarrad Branthwaite responds to Man United legend praise as personal terms agreed

Jarrad Branthwaite has responded to praise from one Manchester United legend as the defender agreed personal terms with the Old Trafford club.

United are aiming to strengthen their defensive line following INEOS’ end-of-season review, which confirmed that Erik ten Hag will remain at the club.

According to The Times, United’s hopes of signing Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite have been significantly boosted after the club agreed on personal terms with the player’s representatives.

If the transfer goes through, the 21-year-old defender would earn between £150,000 and £160,000 a week.

While United has yet to agree on a transfer fee with Everton, who are asking for around £70 million, securing an agreement with Branthwaite’s representatives is a major step forward.

Branthwaite’s breakthrough Premier League season came last term as he started 35 league fixtures – playing 90 minutes in all but one of those for the Toffees.

The young defender secured important first-team football on loan in the Eredivisie with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV Eindhoven side in the previous season.

Van Nistelrooy was a huge fan of the defender and labelled him as a ‘complete player’ during his time in the Netherlands.

Asked by Stadium Astro about that compliment back in February, Branthwaite said: “It was nice. Ruud, the manager, he was brilliant for me. I had a bit of a slow start over there; I didn’t get as many games as I wanted to.

“It got to the January and I was iffing and butting over whether to stay or to come back but he had full belief in me and said he’s going to play me for the rest of the season.

“I believed him and he stuck to his word and ever since then I’ve grew as a player. Second half of the season I played in every game and leading into this season it helped me.”