Real Madrid 'emerge' as shock contenders for Newcastle United & Man United 'target' with '£100m price tag'

Real Madrid have joined Newcastle United in the race to sign Everton wonderkid Jarrad Branthwaite, according to reports.

Born in Carlisle, the defender has emerged as one of Sean Dyche’s success stories at Goodison Park this season. The Toffees are valiantly fighting to stay in the Premier League after being slapped with a 10-point deduction for breaching financial regulations.

They are one point above the drop zone but have played a game more than Luton Town. Well-documented economic struggles mean it is unlikely Everton will splash the cash in January to bolster their ranks ahead of the run-in.

Branthwaite could offer a reprieve on the balance sheet if the Blues get their asking price. Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle were three Premier League clubs linked with the 21-year-old but the Daily Mail claim La Liga giants Real Madrid are now chasing the defender. i News reported in December that Everton had put a £100m price tag on the player to fend off interest from suitors - with Branthwaite's former club Carlisle United said to be due 10 per cent of any deal.

Former Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti is leaving Los Blancos at the end of the season to manage Brazil but it was he who gave Branthwaite his Everton debut in 2020. Madrid stalwarts David Alaba and Eder Militao are recovering from ACL injuries, meaning a centre-back should be a priority in the summer.

Dyche played down suggestions Branthwaite - who only penned a new contract in October - will leave the club when speaking to reporters last month. He said: "Look, we’ve all seen this before. A young player comes into the Premier League, does great and then all these stories start. It is a standard process so I am not worried about that.

“He does continue to improve but I will remind you there is no gold dust from me or my staff. We do not want to get in the way of the improvement. He is coming along at a really nice rate. You can coach things into players they do not need. For me, it is just to keep on enjoying it."