Jarrad Branthwaite comes with triple-threat tax for Man Utd or Man City
“Left-footed, centre-half, English, it comes with a premium and I should know,” said Joleon Lescott with a self-deprecating laugh you can only convincingly deploy with two Premier League winner’s medals in your back pocket. It’s been almost 15 years since Lescott joined Manchester City from Everton for what was briefly a ludicrous £22m sum, but the triple-threat tax has only rocketed since he unexpectedly became football gold-dust in 2009.
For Lescott in 2009, read Jarrad Branthwaite in 2024. Both at Everton, both left-sided, both the subject of substantial transfer interest from far bigger clubs. Lescott forced through his move to Manchester City but Branthwaite will not have to do the same; Everton’s FFP issues mean that any reasonable fee will be accepted. But they will hope for a bidding war that will create an unreasonable fee close to £80m.
There have been questions about whether Branthwaite is even left-footed (a former coach says otherwise) but it’s something he is understandably keen to claim, saying earlier this season: “I am left-footed, but I’ve got a five-star weak foot on the new FIFA! If I’m hitting a long pass, I’ll go with my left; short passes with my right.”
It’s little wonder that Manchester United and Manchester City are both incredibly interested; United’s struggles this season can at least in part be attributed to the absences of Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw. As a coach who wants to build from the back, Erik ten Hag has been hamstrung by the lack of a left-footed defender.
His comments after moving Harry Maguire to the right were telling: “The angles are not good for Harry if he is playing on the left side, it’s difficult for him also defending in wide areas on his left foot but I think he is more capable on the right. Victor is very good, he can use both feet and I think he also did a brilliant job in the rest of defence and the defensive transitions. That’s why we prefer to do it with them in this way.”
It’s little wonder that Manchester United have been strongly linked with both Branthwaite and Marc Guehi, who is right-footed but plays on the left side and seems equally adept with both feet. Add their reported ‘Buy British’ policy and both Everton and Crystal Palace should be able to name their (very high) price.
But if there’s a ball-playing English centre-half available then Manchester City will inevitably be as interested as they were in 2009 with Lescott and 2016 with John Stones. Pep Guardiola has spent heavily on left-footed options Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol after finding himself hampered by the absence and then exit of Aymeric Laporte.
“He has something that we don’t otherwise have in the squad – his left foot in a central defender,” the manager said as City found themselves left behind by Liverpool in the title race in early 2020. “There are many actions to build up – to make our play quicker, better – but we can’t do them. Not because the other players are not good but because Laporte is the only left-footed central defender.”
He has armed himself since then but he would clearly be tempted by Branthwaite, described as a “student of the game” by Lescott. And any student of the game would be tempted to work with Guardiola, who would relish training any Dyche-isms out of his game.
And if not Branthwaite then perhaps Levi Colwill, also linked with both Manchester City and Liverpool, who have their own left-sided (if not left-footed) totem in Virgil van Dijk who will need to be replaced. Left-footed, centre-half, English, it comes with a premium, or at least that’s what Everton and Chelsea will hope.
Romano reveals Ashworth issues are slowing down Man Utd ‘strategy’ amid ‘collapse’ claims
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s strategy at Man Utd is being slowed down by the club’s failure to agree a compensation fee with Newcastle for Dan Ashworth, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The British billionaire has wasted no time in trying to make big changes at Man Utd since completing a deal to buy 27.7 per cent of the Red Devils from the Glazer family.
Romano: Jason Wilcox will join but Dan Ashworth future still unclear
Ratcliffe was given control of the football operation as part of the agreement and he’s already appointed Omar Berrada as the new CEO from arch-rivals Man City.
Jason Wilcox also looks set to join as the new technical director from Championship side Southampton, while Man Utd are still locked in negotiations to land Ashworth as their new sporting director from Newcastle.
Giving an update on their pursuit of Wilcox, Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “I can guarantee to you once again that Jason Wilcox will be the new Technical Director of Manchester United. The agreement between Jason Wilcox and Man United is in place and Jason Wilcox has informed Southampton about his desire to join Man United.
“The structure will include Omar Berrada as the new CEO and then Dan Ashworth.
READ MORE: Chelsea v Man Utd was a title-deciding rivalry; now it’s two bald men fighting over a comb
Related video: Ten Hag says Man Utd ‘have an idea’ about cause of injury crisis (SNTV)
“Now it’s time to understand about the compensation fee and the timing between Southampton and Man United to make the Wilcox deal happen, but he’s already resigned.
“Reports about Liverpool are not true from what I heard. Jason Wilcox is not going to Liverpool and never had a concrete negotiation with them. Liverpool have different ideas and Jason Wilcox only wanted Manchester United.
“He’s the former Head of Academy at Manchester City, he did an incredible job with people like Joe Shields and many others, but now full focus is on Manchester United the future with INEOS.
“So, a work in progress but trust me, it’s only a matter of time.”
Romano added on Ashworth: “Sticking with Man United, the negotiation with Newcastle is still ongoing for Dan Ashworth.
“It’s not been easy, as expected, but Man United are still working to have Ashworth and Jason Wilcox as soon as possible.
“This delay can of course make the process slower in terms of the club’s strategy, but the vision will always be there thanks to the co-owners and new people at the club.”
Man Utd move for Dan Ashworth ‘could collapse’
Romano’s comments come after reports on Wednesday claimed that their move for Ashworth ‘could collapse’ over his involvement in the deal to bring Sandro Tonali to Newcastle.
Man Utd are understood to be ‘very concerned’ over his role in the Tonali signing with Football Insider adding: ‘Alarm bells are ringing at Old Trafford over how Newcastle paid £60million to sign Tonali from AC Milan but he was soon banned for 10 months for betting rule breaches after being charged by the Italian FA.’
Tottenham told they’re ‘not a big club’ and shouldn’t ‘act like they’ve won silverware’ by Chelsea legend
Joe Cole has riled up Tottenham fans by saying that Spurs are ‘not a big club’ following their 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Tuesday night.
Ange Postecoglou’s side missed the chance to go level on points with fourth-placed Aston Villa and boost their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Tottenham failed to qualify for Europe last season and despite coming close on multiple occasions, they haven’t won a major trophy since 2008.
Cole, who played for West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool, was in wind-up mode while on punditry duty following the game against West Ham and didn’t hold back when talking to former Tottenham player Glen Hoddle.
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“West Ham always do so well against Tottenham Hotspur. They raise their game. Joe, you’ve been in that dressing room. I don’t know what it is. Over the years, when I played, in your era, and now, I think it’s the fanbase,” Hoddle said.
“I think West Ham may have also felt like also-rans when Tottenham, even though they haven’t won much silverware. [Spurs] They act and behave like a team that does. Sorry about this Glenn, by the way,” Cole replied.
“West Ham probably think, ‘Why do you consider yourself a big club?’ So you have that sort of David and Goliath, and you think to yourself ‘Let’s go and stuff them’.
“Because they’re not a big club, they’re not a Manchester United or a Liverpool. They’re a big club [Tottenham], but they’re not of that stature.”
READ MORE: Tottenham sweating as Napoli plot ambitions raid for key player as Conte reunion gathers pace
Tottenham may not have the trophy cabinet of Man Utd or Liverpool but no-one can deny that they are a real force under Postecoglou.
They’ve become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League having scored an impressive 62 goals this season – despite losing their record scorer Harry Kane last summer.
If Spurs continue on their current trajectory you’d think that their next trophy should only be just around the corner.
With exciting young players such as Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Pape Matar Sarr and Brennan Johnson among their ranks, the future certainly looks bright.
Saying that, we have said all that before, especially in the Mauricio Pochettino era, so it will be interesting to see if they can keep up their momentum under Postecoglou.
DON’T MISS: Postecoglou on red alert as Tottenham target’s mentor ignites summer transfer with obvious hint
Barcelona in talks to hijack Real Madrid deal for Argentine wonderkid set for €45m exit clause
Barcelona have reportedly made contact with the latest South American wonderkid expected to hit the big time as they look to beat LaLiga rivals Real Madrid to his signature.
River Plate playmaker Franco Mastantuono is the starlet in question, with the 16-year-old Argentine having made his mark at first-team level this season.
The Argentinian giants are fully aware of interest in the player, however, and are already moving to raise his buyout clause.
Indeed, they intend to extend his contract until December 2026 and will place a €45m release clause in his deal, which rises by €5m in the final days of the transfer window.
DON’T MISS: Copa Libertadores: One future star from each group destined for transfers to European giants
This week it was also reported that Real Madrid had decided that Mastantuono was worth pursuing in the summer. while Manchester United have previously been mentioned as a potential destination.
But of the trio of clubs mentioned, it’s Barcelona who have made a concrete move, with Sport stating that the Blaugrana have made contact with his agents in order to sound out the player.
The Catalan side are said to have been monitoring Mastantuono for some time and regard him as a generational talent.Related video: Real Madrid train ahead of visit of Athletic Bilbao to Santiago Bernabéu (SNTV)
The report adds that Barcelona hope the youngster can be persuaded to hold off committing to a team until 2025, by which time they will be able to afford a deal for him given their current financial issues.
As for Real, they are ready to strike a deal immediately but will then allow Mastantuono to stay in Argentina for another year.
Sport adds that Barca will also make the case that Mastantuono will get more opportunities in their first team going forward than he would at The Bernabeu.
If he does move to the Camp Nou, Mastantuono could eventually find himself battling with another talented youngster in Lamine Yamal, who is already making waves in Catalonia.
READ MORE: Man Utd to miss out on Barcelona sensation as Catalans line up swap deal for Liverpool midfield target
Both players are left-footed wingers who play from the right and like to cut in and shoot off their stronger foot.
It now just remains to be seen how far River Plate progress with their new deal talks for the attacker.
Phil Foden vs Jude Bellingham: Man Utd target turns Ballon d’Or soothsayer after 2022 prediction
Phil Foden scored another hat-trick to put himself in the Ballon d’Or conversation with Jude Bellingham. Jason Wilcox knew it.
If only to see Michael Owen denied smug smiles at being the only Englishman ever to claim the gong, we would love to see Phil Foden or Jude Bellingham win the Ballon d’Or this season. They’re surely both in with a very good chance.
Frank Lampard came closest to winning it in the 23 years since Owen’s triumph, coming second in 2005, while Bellingham and Harry Kane were 18th and 19th respectively as the highest-ranking England players last year.
Bellingham’s stunning first season for Real Madrid has made him the favourite among the bookmakers, with Phil Foden eighth behind Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Kane, Lionel Messi, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.
Without wanting to be overly disrespectful to Inter Miami and the MLS, club honours aren’t likely to hold much significance for Messi, for whom even a Copa America win will surely see him fall short of his European competition, despite a stranglehold on the Ballon d’Or which saw him win it for an eighth time last year.
Haaland and De Bruyne being above Foden feels as though it’s based more on past accomplishments than their displays this season, as well as what they could do in the remaining weeks, given they’ve more often than not been outshone by Foden, as well as Rodri, who again proved himself worthy of being in the conversation in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday.
The Spaniard already has more goals (9) and assists (13) than in any previous season, adding an attacking threat to his game while remaining the foremost number six in world football.
Rodri has been brilliant again for Manchester City this season.
He drifted into the box to sweep Jeremy Doku’s pass into the roof of the net to give City the lead at the Etihad, before showing delightfully quick feet to set up Foden – a more typical style of Ballon d’Or winner – for the second goal in his second hat-trick of the season.
That was a lovely finish, as he swivelled to guide the ball in off the far post. There was an element of fortune for his first, as Nicolo Zaniolo inexplicably jumped away from Ezri Konsa in the Villa wall to allow Foden’s free-kick through a gap. But there was no luck involved in the third, as Foden won the ball back before spanking it into the top corner.
The hat-trick draws him level on 30 goal contributions with Jude Bellingham, who got an assist on his return to action after suspension on Wednesday in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
The pair will be facing each other in less than a week when City travel to Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash, and whoever makes it through to the semi-final will be the favourite to win Old Big Ears, which will also give them a very good chance of winning the Ballon d’Or.
With Bellingham and Foden as a pair of generational talents, as well as Kane, Bukayo Saka and other scary talent besides, there’s also a strong possibility England will go all the way in the European Championships, at which point the L’Equipe journalists surely won’t be able to look past a member of Gareth Southgate’s team, given the combination of club and international brilliance.
And we may therefore see soon-to-be Manchester United technical director Jason Wilcox’s 2022 prediction come true. “Why can’t one of our young players win the Ballon d’Or? Why not?” the then Manchester City academy head asked in 2022.
We can no longer think of a good reason why Foden can’t win it after another oustanding performance for Manchester City, but he’ll have to go some to pip Bellingham. A brilliant season for English footballers could turn into a brilliant season for England, with an individual award the cherry on top of multiple trophies for one of two young lads leading the way.
It’s Phil Foden vs Jude Bellingham and we’re here for it.
The ridiculous XI of players Chelsea sold before they hit their prime: Salah, De Bruyne, Ampadu…
Chelsea have had so many players over the years, with some hits and some misses – but even some of those who didn’t hit the mark have gone on to become world-class players elsewhere.
We’ve chosen an entire lineup of currently active players Chelsea got rid of who, had they stayed together, could have become one of the best around right now.
GK: Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid
The Belgian keeper Courtois was bought by Chelsea from Genk for €8.95m and then loaned to Atletico Madrid for two years where he hugely impressed and even won the La Liga title in 2013/14 over giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Courtois’ presence at 6’6” was so commanding despite being such a young keeper at the time.
From that moment onward Courtois went from strength to strength. He replaced Chelsea legendary keeper Petr Cech and made 154 appearances winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup. Courtois then joined Real Madrid for €35m as their upgrade on Keylor Navas. At Real Madrid he’s won nine trophies including two La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League making 230 appearances.
RB: Andreas Christensen – Barcelona
Christensen is a more recent departure, leaving the club on a free transfer in 2022/23 after spending 10 years at the club. Christensen is a very composed technical defender who in today’s age of ball playing centre-backs capable of stepping into midfield or playing right-back, ticks all the boxes. He’s mainly played centre-back but also defensive-midfield and right-back.Related video: Pochettino looking for Chelsea improvements ahead of Manchester Utd clash (English Football Channel)
Is there any other news with any of the injured
Video Player is loading.There are other right-backs Chelsea have had come through the Cobham academy playing in the Premier League right now such as Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton) and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest).
RCB: Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
The second Real Madrid player is Antonio Rudiger, who like Christensen left the club on a free transfer in 2022. Rudiger has been a rock solid defender for both clubs that loves to battle with the biggest, toughest strikers out there. Rudiger was an important part of Chelsea’s Champions League winning team back in 2020/21.
LCB: Marc Guehi- Crystal Palace
The England international Marc Guehi left Chelsea for Palace back in 2021/22 after a successful loan spell at Swansea City. A calm composed defender who’s comfortable on either foot playing RCB or LCB. Guehi won’t be at Palace much longer and has even been linked with a return to Chelsea.
Other top Premier League teams such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham have been linked too.
READ MORE: Exclusive: Liverpool make contact with Chelsea linked defender in first step towards blockbuster summer deal
LB: Nathan Ake – Manchester City
Ake is another that Chelsea have looked at re-signing recently. Ake left the club, joining Bournemouth on loan, in 2016/17 then permanently in 2017/18 for a whopping €22.8m. At the time it seemed like a lot but Ake was a solid player for them.
Ake played at centre-back and not only had great anticipation reading passes in behind and defended 1v1s well. Ake always had the on-the-ball ability of a midfielder but due to being smaller for a centre-back he was overlooked by a lot of teams.
But it’s Man City who signed him in 2020/21 for €45.3m. Since then he’s won eight trophies including three Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League title. Last season Pep Guardiola’s decision to move Ake to left-back was a huge part of what made them so defensively solid and win the treble.
RDM: Declan Rice – Arsenal
Rice was famously released from Chelsea’s academy when he was young and speaks a lot about how that happening only made him a better player. Instead, Rice ended up at West Ham where he initially came through as a centre-back and transitioned into midfield as a defensive-midfielder and was their captain in his final season, leading them to a Europa Conference League title.
Since then, Rice has been one of the signings of the season for Arsenal making them one of the best defensive set ups in Europe this season.
LDM: Ethan Ampadu – Leeds United
Ampadu only just left Chelsea permanently in the summer after being out on loan for several years at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Spezia and Venezia. During each loan, Ampadu was getting better and better. The first two weren’t the best, but when Ampadu went to Italy he learnt to channel his aggression better and refined his decision making.
Ampadu joined Leeds in the summer and has been arguably their most important player, filling in at centre-back for injured players or being the rock in midfield. Ampadu brings defensive solidity and reads the game so well but is so composed on the ball too.
AM: Kevin De Bruyne – Man City
De Bruyne is the one that must hurt Chelsea fans the most. The Man City midfielder is in the conversation as being the best ever attacking midfielder in Premier League history but one day he was at Chelsea.
Like compatriot Courtois, De Bruyne was also signed from Genk and in his case, barely played at Chelsea. Then he went on loan to Werder Bremen and the following season signed for Wolfsburg for €22m. De Bruyne ended up becoming one of the best players in the Bundesliga and signing for Man City for €76m in 2015/16.
De Bruyne has become one of the best players in the world and for years has been the best in the Premier League. With a killer final pass and ambipedal ball striking, De Bruyne is one of the best big-game players out there and was influential in building Guardiola’s Man City dynasty – 16 trophies later including five Premier League titles and one Champions League title.
RW: Mo Salah – Liverpool
Another Premier League legend here, it’s a crazy thought that Chelsea could’ve once lined up with the likes of Salah, De Bruyne and Eden Hazard in attack. This trio were the three best players in the league at one point.
Salah signed from Basel for €16.5m and was then loaned out to Fiorentina in the 2015 winter window. Salah subsequently really came into form at Roma where he joined on a loan in 2015 made permanent for €15m in 2016.
Next, Salah became a crucial signing under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, returning to the Premier League for €42m and managing to win every trophy possible at the club. In 338 games at Liverpool Salah has scored 208 goals and got 89 assists.
ST: Dominic Solanke – Bournemouth
There are actually a good few strikers all at a similar level currently. Romelu Lukaku was a big name, as was Tammy Abraham, both now at Roma, but they’re not in the best of form, not compared to Dominic Solanke. In 29 Premier League games this season, Solanke has scored 16 goals for Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth. It has been his best season in the Premier League yet.
READ MORE: Pochettino grinning as Chelsea told they’ll sign £113m striker this summer, with Arsenal left behind
LW: Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich
Musiala is another who never played for Chelsea’s first team but was at their academy for eight years before leaving in 2019 for €200k as a 16-year-old. Bayern will be laughing now because Musiala is Germany and Bayern’s star boy, the best dribbler in Europe and one of the best talents in the world.
This one especially was poor business on Chelsea’s part because if Bayern were to sell him now he’d be worth over £100m.
Here’s how they would’ve lined up:
