Manchester United have made an approach to sign Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, according to reports.

The 23-year-old has started just five Premier League games this season due to a hamstring injury which required surgery in October.

Branthwaite made his first appearance of the campaign in January and Everton manager David Moyes has been keen to manage the defender’s minutes since his return to the team.

United, meanwhile, had two bids rejected for Branthwaite in 2024, including an offer of £50 million. Everton were holding out for a £70m transfer fee and United went on to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich and Leny Yoro from Lille.

But according to talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, United have kept in contact with Branthwaite ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

‘They [United] like Jarrad Branthwaite, there’s no denying that,’ Jacobs told The United Stand.

‘The advantage of Harry Maguire is that they can take their time, whether now or a whether a year down the line.

Metro's weekly newsletter In The Mixer delivers punchy analysis and breakdowns of the biggest football stories directly to your inbox.

Sign up here, it's an open goal.

‘There was a meeting with the...