Manchester United No. 1 target Thomas Tuchel turns down job, Jarrad Branthwaite expected to join - Paper Round

Thomas Tuchel, Manchester United's No. 1 target to replace Erik ten Hag, has turned down an opportunity to step into the dugout at Old Trafford.

That is according to a report in The Sun which claims the German plans to take a break from the game, with Ten Hag's future at United still seemingly uncertain.

"Thomas Tuchel does not want the Manchester United job and told them he plans to take a break from football," reads the article.

"The former Chelsea boss has held two meetings with Red Devils owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in recent weeks.

"United had made Tuchel their No. 1 target as Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford looked increasingly uncertain.

"However after leaving Bayern Munich in the summer, Tuchel has now indicated he needs some time away from management.

"And that takes him out of the running to take over should Ten Hag be relieved of his duties by the new minority owners.

"He outlined how he would address the various issues that have hit United in recent months - including how to get the best out of Jadon Sancho."

In better news for Manchester United fans, speculation suggests the club expect to sign Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this month.

The 21-year-old was cut from Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024, but the Mirror claims that will only speed up the process of a transfer to The Red Devils.

The report reads: "Manchester United expect to wrap up the signing of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this month, with his omission from England's Euro 2024 squad a major boost.

"Branthwaite was part of Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for the tournament, but ended up being one of seven players axed alongside James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Curtis Jones, Harry Maguire, Jarell Quansah and James Trafford.

"The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakout season for Everton, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, and he is top of United's list of defensive targets. The Red Devils are keen to strengthen their back line and are set to push ahead with the deal despite the uncertainty over the future of Erik ten Hag.

"According to the Liverpool Echo, United are 'expecting' to seal a deal for Branthwaite before the end of the month. However, Everton will only let the player leave if a huge offer is made for the left-footer.

"Talks over Branthwaite's future are set to ramp up after he was dropped by Southgate, with the Football Association (FA) blocking England players from being involved in transfer negotiations while on international duty.

"Now that Branthwaite has left the England setup, United are set to push ahead with the deal."

Aston Villa are tempted to sell Douglas Luiz but will demand £50 million for their midfielder, claims a report.

Arsenal are said to be interested in the Brazilian and allegedly had a £25m bid rejected two years ago.

"Arsenal have been told they'll need to cough up £50 million if they want to land Douglas Luiz," states the Mirror.

"The Aston Villa midfielder has just enjoyed a stellar year and played a key role in the Midlands outfit reaching the Champions League. He scored 10 times and provided a further 10 assists as his stock continued to rise.

"Villa, having previously rejected bids for the Brazilian, may have to sell this summer with the club will still need to offset new signings by player sales in order to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. The 20 top-flight outfits who are under pressure to meet the Premier League’s financial rules will need to sell players before the deadline on June 30.

"It could force Unai Emery into cashing in with Arsenal having a long-standing interest in Luiz. Villa, though, have made it clear how much they'd expected for the player.

"Luiz would represent a significant profit for Villa if he was moved on as he joined the club in a £15m deal from Manchester City in 2019. Arsenal have previously seen a £25m offer rejected, that coming back in 2022."

--

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media