Jarrad Branthwaite playing for Everton. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Chelsea behind Manchester United in transfer chase for £60m centre back in January

Originally posted on Chelsea News | Last updated Sep 24, 2025 6:19 AM ET

The concerns about Chelsea’s central defensive setup go on.

In the summer Levi Colwill had surgery on his ACL and was effectively ruled out for the season. Yet the club insisted they weren’t going to buy anyone in, and would instead trust the players they already had in the squad and the development of youngsters like Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr out on loan.

That was a very ambitious view – some would have argued that we didn’t even have sufficient quality to win the league even when Colwill was fit. We certainly don’t now.

Chelsea links to expensive central defenders return

So the links to top defenders are back, and one we’re hearing a lot about now it Jarrad Branthwaite. He was chased by a number of top clubs (including Chelsea) in the summer of 2024, before he signed a new contract to end the speculation.

That kept things pretty quiet this summer, but by next summer we expect the talk will be ramping up again. The Daily Briefing claim that Manchester United are readying a £60m bid for next summer, and may even test Everton’s resolve in January. Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested.

Chelsea still hunting for “their Van Dijk”

We’re told week after week when we struggle defensively that we lack a “Virgil Van Dijk” in defence: a really top player with lots of physical presence to lead this team to top titles.

If things continue to go badly in defence this season, buying one of them might become a reality. Is Branthwaite that man? It’s hard to say. Just remember when Van Dijk was at Southampton – he looked great, but who would predict he would go on to be a true all time Premier League legend ten years later?

This article first appeared on Chelsea News and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: