Arsena might hinder Manchester United’s chances of acquiring Jarrad Branthwaite if they pursue their interest in Amadou Onana. Reports indicate that the Gunners inquired about the midfielder’s availability on Friday, coinciding with United’s initial bid for Branthwaite, which was considered inadequate. Mikel Arteta has been a long-time admirer of Onana, and his decision could significantly impact Everton’s summer.
The transfer window started with a flurry of activity at Finch Farm as Manchester United and Arsenal expressed interest in two of the club’s top talents. Their pursuit of Branthwaite and Onana has been well-known, but how far each club is willing to go for these players is still uncertain.
The upcoming days will be critical for both clubs’ efforts to secure their targets before pre-season. Premier League teams are gearing up for the end of the month, which marks the close of the current financial year. Clubs worried about nearing the £105 million three-year loss threshold set by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations are striving to improve their financial positions by the end of June. It’s believed that up to six top-flight clubs risk breaching these rules, which led to Everton receiving two points deductions last season, and Nottingham Forest also facing sanctions.
Everton is believed to be among the clubs that would benefit from completing a sale before the deadline. The club’s financial calculations have been complicated by an unresolved dispute regarding how interest on loans, reportedly taken for the new stadium development, was accounted for. This issue could serve as a significant mitigating factor if Everton faces allegations of a third breach. This argument was postponed by the commission that reviewed the second case against the club earlier this year.
The vulnerability of certain clubs to aggressive bargain hunters is expected to create a mini-deadline day on June 30, as anxious teams rush to improve their Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) figures. This urgency likely influenced Manchester United’s £35 million opening bid for Branthwaite on Friday afternoon. Everton planned to reject this bid, finding it unacceptable even with £8 million in add-ons that United considered highly achievable.
Everton values Branthwaite, now a full England international and one of Europe’s most promising defensive talents after an impressive breakthrough season, far more than the initial offer suggests. The club views him as a crucial player and appreciates his development opportunities at Everton. As a key figure in Sean Dyche’s defense, the club is determined not to be pressured into accepting a low offer for Branthwaite.
Arsenal’s potential pursuit of Onana could further strengthen Everton’s stance. Onana, recognized as a talented player with a promising future, is also known for his ambition and desire to compete at the highest levels. However, unlike Branthwaite, Jordan Pickford, or Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Onana isn’t as central to Sean Dyche’s tactics. Notably, he did not start in the critical victories over Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, or Brentford that secured Everton’s survival last season.
From a Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) perspective, Everton would benefit more from selling Branthwaite, who was acquired from Carlisle for £1 million. However, a substantial bid for Onana, who joined two years ago for just over £30 million, could also improve their financial position sufficiently to comply with regulations for the first time in three years. The ECHO reports that it would take a bid of around £50 million for Everton to consider negotiating over Onana. There are doubts whether Arsenal can afford such a deal this month. While the Gunners aren’t expected to face PSR issues, their cautious financial approach led them to sign David Raya on a loan-now, pay-later deal last season, and they are believed to have other targets as well.
Should a suitable bid for Onana come in over the next two weeks, regardless of the buyer, it would facilitate a sale that could alleviate Everton’s PSR concerns and reduce their vulnerability to aggressive attempts to acquire key player Branthwaite at a bargain price. While Everton would still have to fight to retain the highly sought-after 21-year-old, any interested party, including Manchester United, would need to meet the club’s valuation much more closely to have any chance of securing a player who could potentially resolve a team’s defensive issues for the next decade.
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