Forget Jarrad Branthwaite - Man Utd can land a genius £58m ideal transfer alternative this summer

It’s no great secret that Manchester United are in the market for a centre-back this summer, and they’ve been linked with a lengthy list of players ranging from Jean-Clair Todibo to Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite – but according to FourFourTwo, they’re currently in talks with another defender as they look to bolster their back line. That man is Juventus and Brazil’s Gleison Bremer.

Apparently United have “intensified contacts” with Bremer in recent days and weeks “in order to steal a march over the rest of the Premier League” – he was linked with a move to Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur back in 2022 before he moved to Juve instead, and the Red Devils are unlikely to be his only suitors.

Juventus aren’t looking to move Bremer on – he’s started every Serie A game for which he’s been available since signing two years ago – but he has a release clause in his contract which has been variously reported as being worth anything from £43m to £58m, according to FourFourTwo. That’s a lot of money, but still less than Branthwaite might cost if Everton stay in the Premier League. Bremer could be a budget alternative by comparison.

The 27-year-old, who made a brief cameo at the tail end of Brazil’s 1-0 win over England at Wembley on Saturday, is among the most dependable centre-backs in Serie A, rarely making needless mistakes and offering intelligent marking, strong tackling and impressive physical strength.

6’2” and broadly built, Bremer – who was named after German legend Andreas Brehme, who scored the winning goal in the 1990 World Cup final – is nigh-on impossible to outmuscle, good in the air and rarely lets his man slip away from him. When it comes to the fundamental arts of defending, there are few better, and he has a decent turn of speed to cover any errors he does make.

He’s also a rock-solid passer who is happy playing vertical balls quickly up to midfield under pressure, which helps his teams to be resistant to counter-pressing sides, and although he doesn’t look to try too many long balls, he has an admirable completion rate when he does. For a side like United, who try to play quick and direct upfield, his passing range should be most helpful.

What he does lack is the capacity to run the ball out of defence effectively – he’s not a dribbler or a technician and rarely looks to bring the ball forward himself, but he’s more than happy to step out of defence to plug holes in midfield when required. He’s the kind of player who is aware of his skills and of his limits, and plays within them whenever possible.

He's also a threat from set pieces, with 17 Serie A goals in his five full seasons in Turin – rather like Branthwaite, he’s rock solid at the back, physically imposing in both boxes and not really a ball-playing defender of the sort some modern teams prize. The two defenders have similar playing profiles, and the only major difference is the six-year age gap. Bremer is probably playing close to his peak, while Branthwaite may yet develop further – and indeed, the Everton man’s confidence in his distribution has grown noticeably in recent months.

For United, bringing in a player like Bremer or Branthwaite likely signals the intention to persist with the direct style that Erik ten Hag has fostered this season with mixed results. These aren’t necessarily the type of defenders who you want in a high line – rather, they excel in deeper positions with their backs against the wall. The comparison point in the current United defence is with Harry Maguire, but as well all know by now, there are always questions over Maguire’s reliability and form, not to mention his fitness in recent months. Bremer has an excellent fitness record and hasn’t missed many games at all since arriving in Italy.

It’s far from clear whether the Brazilian is interested in a move, although the inclusion of a release clause in his latest contract implies that he would consider it – but that deal was only signed in December, and he is theoretically tied to the Old Lady until 2028. But given that United’s advances do not appear to have been rebuffed, one suspects that he’s open to temptation.

United have plenty of options at centre-half, and their shopping list is lengthy. It isn’t clear whether Bremer is at the top of it, or whether the club are simply keeping their options open in advance. Plenty of the players they have been linked with a more technical players who might suit a different tactical style – an indication, perhaps, that they are look at options that would suit both Ten Hag and a different potential manager.

But if they’re looking for a no-nonsense centre-half, then Bremer could well be the best option. He’s got everything Branthwaite has with some extra experience on top – and he may well be a bit cheaper, too.