Everton tipped to sign £80m Man United star
David Moyes could launch a raid of his former club Manchester United as he looks to re-shape Everton’s squad into his image this summer.
Everton are heading towards a comfortable mid-table finish at the end of this season thanks to the turnaround Moyes has led at Goodison Park, with the Toffees currently on a nine-match unbeaten run.
This summer is set to be a transformational one for Everton, with their move from Goodison to Bramley-Moore Dock coinciding with up to 13 out-of-contract players and loanees potentially departing the club.
Angus Kinnear is also arriving as the Friedkin Group’s new CEO, while Kevin Thelwell’s impending exit as director of football is set to give Moyes much more sway and influence in the Toffees’ transfer activity.
This comes after former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Thelwell’s role in ensuring Everton avoid further PSR breaches after last season’s points deductions has “got them over the line”.
Moyes will therefore take a hands-on approach in the transfer market this summer, and with Jarrad Branthwaite being a player who could raise significant funds, he’s got plenty of positions to address.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider that if a player of Branthwaite’s ilk – and price tag – is sold this summer, Moyes will already have his ideal replacement lined up.
David Moyes to move forward with Harry Maguire pursuit
Branthwaite’s future, as was the case last summer, is set to be a talking point throughout the upcoming transfer window, with both Manchester United and Real Madrid maintaining interest in the Everton star.
Football Insider were told by United’s former chief scout Mick Brown in January that Maguire looks set for new contract talks at Old Trafford after impressing Ruben Amorim, but they’d still likely accept a bid.
Maguire’s six-season spell with the Red Devils certainly hasn’t lived up to the £80million fee they paid to Leicester back in 2019, and United may look to cut their losses on the world’s most expensive defender.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Robinson said Maguire is a player Moyes would be likely to target if Branthwaite does depart the club this summer, but he doesn’t see Branthwaite leaving Merseyside just yet.
“I could see Harry Maguire being the type of player that David Moyes likes; and that type of centre-half, [a] no nonsense centre-half that would fit into the mould of what he is trying to do at Everton”, he told Football Insider.
“If they let Jarrad Branthwaite go, they may have an opportunity to strengthen their squad in other areas.
“If there’s a situation where they could maybe let him go bring in a player like Harry Maguire then that might be an option for them.
“I don’t see him going this summer. I think he gives it another 12 months and then reassess the situation.”
David Moyes to target multiple transfers amid vital Everton summer
Although Michael Keane is one of several players out of contract this summer, centre-back likely won’t be a priority position for Moyes with James Tarkowski and Jake O’Brien joining Branthwaite in the ranks.
Maguire may emerge as an option if contract talks stall at Old Trafford, but Moyes will likely turn attention elsewhere, with long-term targets like Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah still on Everton’s radar this summer.
Even more ambitious approaches in this transfer window, such as Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, could also be on the cards, as Moyes and Friedkin lead Everton into a brand-new era with endless possibilites.
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