Man Utd identify Edmond Tapsoba as alternative to Everton ace Jarrad Branthwaite

Manchester United have identified Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba as an alternative if they fail to sign Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.

The Red Devils are eyeing a new centre-back in the upcoming transfer window as they look to replace Raphael Varane whose contract expires at the end of June.

Despite being a left-footer, Branthwaite has been touted as the main target, but the Manchester Evening News claims United will not be held to ransom by the Toffees.

The Merseyside side want between £70m and £80m for the 21-year-old before June 30 as they seek to comply with Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) rules.

United are also in a difficult position with PSR and are reluctant to pay for him. Leverkusen's Tapsoba is one of the alternatives on the club's radar.

The Red Devils will likely spend more cautiously this summer

The club had no financial room to sign a new centre-forward in January and the same was conveyed by manager Erik ten Hag at the end of last season.

Therefore, it is very unlikely that the Red Devils will make a huge spend on a player before June 30. They could focus on player sales before the fiscal year closes this month.

Regardless, the new hierarchy is correct in its stance on Branthwaite's valuation. They have been guilty in the past of overpaying players whose clubs took advantage of them.

In our opinion, the Red Devils should offer no more than £50m for Branthwaite. He is still relatively inexperienced, having only completed one full season in the Premier League.

Branthwaite is capable of playing as a right centre-back despite being left-footed, but he only did so during a short loan spell at PSV under Ruud van Nisterooy.

Therefore, his signing carries a risk. If the Toffees are reluctant to lower their demands, United could focus on Tapsoba, who is a right-footed centre-back.

The Burkina Faso international can comfortably play in both central defensive positions. The Bundesliga winner is much more experienced than Branthwaite at 25 and has better passing skills.

Branthwaite performed well for Everton when it came to defensive contributions last season, but he had a passing accuracy of just 80 percent, much lower than Tapsoba (91 percent) at Leverkusen.

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