Everton is showing strong interest in signing Sunderland’s Dan Ballard to replace Jarrad Branthwaite, who is being pursued by Manchester United. This comes as Branthwaite has had a remarkable season, establishing himself as a top performer in the Premier League.
The Carlisle native has been a key player for Everton and the team reportedly demands a fee of around £75m to deter interested clubs like United, Tottenham, and Real Madrid. However, Everton seems to be preparing for life without the 21-year-old defender as they focus on finding a replacement.
According to reports, Everton is keen on signing Sunderland center-back Daniel Ballard in the upcoming summer transfer window to fill Branthwaite’s shoes. The 24-year-old, who spent 14 years in Arsenal’s academy before joining Sunderland in 2022, has been a regular for the Black Cats and his national team, Northern Ireland.
The news of Everton’s interest in Ballard will likely be well-received by Manchester United fans, as it may make the deal for Branthwaite more feasible. Additionally, Real Madrid’s decision to not pursue Branthwaite due to their financial commitment to signing Kylian Mbappe could clear a potential obstacle in the transfer.
