With defense being identified as an area that needs strengthening by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS partners, Manchester United is preparing for a busy summer transfer season.

Manchester United is prepared to spend £55 million to acquire Everton’s cash-strapped star Jarrad Branthwaite.

The 21-year-old Branthwaite has had a breakout season with the Toffees, assisting Sean Dyche’s team in keeping their Premier League standing despite being fined eight points for violating the Profit and Sustainability Rules. Going into the summer transfer window, Everton still needs money, and their most marketable player right now is defender Branthwaite.

Branthwaite is a good fit for United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS partners, who are eager to sign the best domestic players available because defense is a requirement. According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are willing to offer Everton £55 million for the center back, but Goodison Park officials believe he is worth closer to £80 million given his connections to Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Tottenham.

The England youth international, who received his first senior call-up in March, intends to play in this summer’s European Championship with Gareth Southgate’s 26-man group. Elite clubs are drawn to Branthwaite because of his left-footedness, age profile, speed, ball handling skills, and aerial presence at 6 feet 5 inches.

‘Players will be sold’ during the transfer season, Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell acknowledged in a letter to supporters over the weekend. “The reality is, given the regulations in place and the Club’s current financial position, we have to trade well,” Thelwell continued.

“The job is quite challenging because of the severe financial constraints that must be followed. We must never lose sight of our primary goal, which is to safeguard the club’s long-term stability, even as we work to make the team as competitive as possible.”

The search for a replacement center back is underway for Ratcliffe and company following Rafael Varane’s confirmation on Tuesday that he will be departing Old Trafford after three seasons. Varane’s contract contained a one-year extension option, but United preferred that he drastically cut his £350,000 weekly salary due to their continued concerns about Financial Fair Play.