Manchester United’s already slow summer transfer window has hit another snag due to a surprising move for former England international Ben Godfrey.
The Everton defender is on the brink of a bargain transfer to Serie A side Atalanta.
Godfrey has struggled for playing time at Goodison Park in recent seasons due to injuries.
However, he made a notable impact in the latter part of the season, helping Everton avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Everton’s situation became more precarious due to two separate points deductions, totaling eight, imposed by the league for breaching the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
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To avoid further financial trouble, Everton is looking to offload players before the June 30 accounting deadline.
Everton Turns Down United’s £35m Branthwaite Offer
This situation prompted United to make an offer for their primary defensive target, Jarrad Branthwaite.
The 22-year-old centre-back has gained recognition in the Premier League after returning from a loan spell at PSV and performing well under Sean Dyche.
Manchester United made a £35m bid for England international Jarrad Branthwaite, which could have risen to £43m with add-ons, but Everton rejected it, valuing him much higher.
Everton, needing to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), have been selling academy and fringe players. They sold Alex Iwobi, Demarai Gray, and Tom Cannon, reducing their financial shortfall.
Recently, they sold Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa and made a deal for Tim Iroegbunham, further closing their PSR gap.
Ben Godfrey’s transfer to Atalanta for £8.65m, with a medical scheduled, is expected to finalize their PSR compliance.
Everton believes this sale will prevent them from having to accept lower offers for Branthwaite or Amadou Onana.
United’s Transfer Plans Shift After Branthwaite Bid Rejection
United, considering an increased bid for Branthwaite, might look elsewhere as Sir Jim Ratcliffe won’t meet Everton’s valuation.
They’ve faced setbacks with Jean-Clair Todibo and are now eyeing Juventus’ Gleison Bremer and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt.
Atalanta’s need to replace injured Giorgio Scalvini led to their move for Godfrey.
United had been planning to increase their bid for Branthwaite, but with Sir Jim Ratcliffe unwilling to meet Everton’s high valuation, they might shift their focus elsewhere.
Their pursuit of Jean-Clair Todibo fell through due to Ineos’s ownership of his club Nice. However, they are still considering Juventus’s Gleison Bremer and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt as potential options.
Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini was a strong candidate for United during the summer transfer window.
Unfortunately, an ACL injury in the final Serie A game forced Atalanta to seek a replacement, leading them to move for Ben Godfrey as they prepare for their Champions League campaign.
Source: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
