Second bid, De Ligt interest, £70m demand - What next for Manchester United and Jarrad Branthwaite

Manchester United are weighing up what to do next after Everton rejected a second bid for defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

It is understood United made an improved offer of £45million plus a further £5m in add-ons, having already had a £43m bid turned down last month.

United's revised offer is still someway off Everton's valuation of the player, who they are understood to want at least £70m for this summer. The Merseyside club's negotiating position has been strengthened after the sales of Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin ahead of the PSR deadline.

Everton sources remain adamant they will only sell Branthwaite if a mega offer is made and have cited recent sales of Harry Maguire, Josko Gvardiol and Wesley Fofana as justification for their price-tag. Given he is only 22, left-footed and English, there is also an argument he is worth more than the aforementioned trio too.

It means United will have to think carefully before they table another bid, with the club themselves wary of getting dragged into protracted transfer talks if they do not believe a resolution can be found.

United's pursuit of Branthwaite is separate from their proposed deal to sign Matthijs De Ligt from Bayern Munich, with the club looking to sign both a right and left centre-back this summer. A move for the Dutchman is understood to be progressing well, though it is unlikely to advance much further while he is away at the European Championship this week.

United are in the market for two new central defenders this summer because Raphael Varane has now officially left the club as a free agent while Jonny Evans is out-of-contract but could be offered another year if the budget to sign a second centre-back becomes limited. United are also looking to sell Victor Lindelof now that he has entered the final year of his current deal.