MANCHESTER UNITED have planned to use Harry Maguire in a swap transfer to land Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

The centre-back is valued at £70million by the Toffees and is a top transfer target for the Red Devils this summer.

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Everton’s severe financial plight means they will be limited in who they can buy at the end of the season.

This means the Toffees may have to sell star players to avoid further Financial Fair Play point deductions.

And one asset they will consider selling is youngster Braithwaite.

Amid growing interest across the Premier League the England U21 international could see his £70m price tag increase.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe hopes to offer experienced fellow Three Lions defender Maguire for the 21-year-old United will become frontrunners for Braithwaite.

But it’s not all down to the Ineos owner as Maguire last summer refused to join West Ham despite knowing he had no future at Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old saw that change as an injury crisis in United’s backline forced boss Erik ten Hag to recall him into the first team.

The Red Devils hope that by including the ex-Leicetser man they may be able to offset about £20m of the Braithwaite.

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After spending last season on loan to Eredivisie side PSV the Carlisle-born star was included in the Three Lions squad who won the U21 European Championship.

Now a key star under Sean Dyche this term with 38 appearances Braithwaite earned his first senior call-up to the England team in March.

The defender will be hoping to impress Gareth Southgate to earn his spot in the Euro 2024 squad this summer.

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