United had an opening bid of £35million for Branthwaite rejected by Everton on Friday.
The Toffees value the centre-half at between £70m-£80m and are determined to hold out for a fee closer to their price tag.
United are set to return with an increased offer but MEN Sport understands that they don't believe the defender is worth that asking price.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already indicated that United won't be forced into paying over the odds for players, and that the days of huge transfer spends are long gone.
The involvement of Ineos, who have taken over the footballing operation at United, will see a more streetwise and potentially frugal approach to recruitment, with the club determined to get value for money, having spent £1billion on players since their last Premier League title.
This story is from the June 16, 2024 edition of MEN on Sunday.
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This story is from the June 16, 2024 edition of MEN on Sunday.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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