Manchester United want to finalise the transfer of one reported Chelsea target this month.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is a player who Chelsea are interested in, according to the Daily Mail.
However, a report from Corriere dello Sport has now claimed that their Premier League rivals Manchester United are trying to do a €40m (£34m) deal with Everton for his signature.
This late in the transfer window, though, you would expect the Toffees to be extremely reluctant to sell Branthwaite to United, Chelsea or any other club.
The centre-back has been a big player for Sean Dyche this season, making 24 appearances in all competitions under the Englishman.
Manchester United trying to sign Jarrad Branthwaite ahead of Chelsea
United seem more desperate to sign Branthwaite than Chelsea, who are not in dire need of a new central defender just yet.
That could change, however, with Thiago Silva potentially leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. But even if that happens, Mauricio Pochettino still has the likes of Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile for central defence.
Pochettino has failed to confirm whether Silva will still be a Chelsea player next season.
It could be the Brazil international out and Branthwaite in, then, at Stamford Bridge. But if the Blues want that to happen, then it looks like they are going to have to beat United to the 21-year-old’s signature.
Chelsea have other centre-half targets as well. In fact, it has been reported that Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande is actually at the top of their list for the summer transfer window.
There is still a way to go, however. What Chelsea need to be concentrating on now is at least finishing in the top six. Pochettino’s men are only four points behind London rivals West Ham United in sixth.
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