Manchester United have submitted a new bid for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
Erik ten Hag has identified the 22-year-old as a top target and United's offer is understood to be £45million up front plus £5m in potential add-ons.
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Everton rejected an opening bid of £35m from United last month and are expected to turn this down too.
talkSPORT reported last month that personal terms have already been agreed between Branthwaite and United.
But Everton want closer to £70m to part with their centre-back.
Red Devils boss Ten Hag is looking for defensive reinforcements having seen Raphael Varane leave the club upon the expiration of his contract.
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Minority Man United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is determined not to pay over the odds for players as the club has done in the past.
The player had a good season with Everton and earned a call-up to Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man England squad, but narrowly missed out on a place at Euro 2024.
Real Madrid have also been linked with Branthwaite, but Man United are thought to be the only serious suitors for him.
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“He’s literally playing above his years," Everton teammate Ashley Young said to talkSPORT about Branthwaite in a recent interview.
"He doesn't take any prisoners, he wants to play football.
“He can tackle, he can head it and come up with a goal as well. He’s got all the attributes to be a great centre-half for many years.”
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Branthwaite began his career at hometown club Carlisle United but made the move to Everton in January 2020 aged 17.
He initially signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Goodison Park but this was extended by a further year to June 2023 shortly after.
Branthwaite has been on loan at Blackburn and also had a productive spell with PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/23 season, winning the KNVB Cup with them.
He was managed at PSV by United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has joined Ten Hag's staff this summer.
Van Nistelrooy said of the young defender in an interview with Coaches Voice earlier this year: “I don’t have to introduce him to the public now because he’s doing fantastic at Everton. He had fantastic development in the season, especially in the second half. He showed great quality on and off the ball. The touches he has with the left and right in the build-up but also defensively, the duels he was winning and the pace he has.
“We like to press high and be high up the pitch, be on the halfway line and he wasn’t afraid to do that.”
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As well as scooping the Young Player of the Year award and Players' Player of the Year award with Everton last season, Branthwaite was part of the England squad that won the European Under-21 Championship last season.
He signed a new deal with Everton in October 2023 and is contracted to the club until 2027.