Jarrad Branthwaite: David Moyes sends Man Utd warning over transfer plans | OneFootball

Everton manager David Moyes has warned Manchester United it will cost a huge sum of money to sign centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.

The Toffees' financial struggles left United confident they could snap the young defender up for a bargain fee last summer, but Everton held firm and rejected two bids worth as much as £50m, instead valuing Branthwaite at closer to £70m.

United are expected to try sign a new centre-back at the end of the season and have been tipped to reignite their pursuit of Branthwaite, but Moyes has now warned his former employers that Everton's financial state has improved to the point they could even afford to raise the 22-year-old's asking price.

"Jarrad has done really well," Moyes said ahead of Saturday's meeting between the two sides. "There are moments when he can do better, there are times he still plays like a young centre-back but has an awful lot going for him.

"He's already been involved in the England squad before I came, he played really well last week and has got a good mentor around him in Tarky [James Tarkowski]. Tarky has been around the league and seen a lot. He has been a good mentor in helping and improving him.

"I think the PSR, I don't know all the stuff but we still have some work to do in the summer. I was aware of it when I came in but I'm hoping we're beginning to stop thinking about that now. We're beginning to think about moving forward, what we're going to do. I think we've got a bill to pay, hopefully we pay that bill then we're in the clear. So, Jarrad is a top player and if people want to buy Jarrad, I've said many times - bring a big bag of money."

Moyes' warning comes as United's transfer debt was revealed to have reached record levels, with £200m of the £390.8m owed to other clubs due to be paid in 2025.