Chelsea could land second Man United transfer blow in £50m battle after Liam Delap decision

Chelsea are reportedly considering a summer swoop for Everton's defender Jarrad Branthwaite as aims to bolster his squad in preparation for a campaign.

Branthwaite, who has two years left on his contract, attracted attention from Manchester United last summer. United had two offers turned down, with their second bid reaching £50million, but the Merseyside outfit stood firm in their refusal to sell.

According to the , Toffees manager David Moyes is still hesitant to let go of Branthwaite, especially with James Tarkowski recuperating from a hamstring operation.

A potential transfer could leave Everton lacking defensive cover, despite Michael Keane and James O'Brien forming a solid centre-back partnership against Newcastle on the season's final day.

There have been suggestions that United might be willing to shell out more than £50m to secure Branthwaite's services this summer, but Chelsea's interest could complicate matters.

A January move for the Carlisle-born player was reportedly considered before United decided to adopt a more economical approach by bringing in Ayden Heaven to strengthen central defence.

If United and Chelsea end up in a bidding war over Branthwaite in the coming weeks, the former might find themselves at a disadvantage. Last summer, the defender was not keen on a transfer that didn't offer Champions League football.

Ruben Amorim's squad missed out on European glory and domestic success, finishing at a dismal 15th in the Premier League and losing to Spurs in the Europa League final.

's victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day secured them a spot in Europe's elite competition, giving them an edge in the transfer market over rivals like United.

Maresca and Chelsea have already by clinching the signature of Ipswich Town's promising forward Liam Delap, with a medical scheduled on Monday before his expected move to atfer the Blues triggered his £30m release clause.

Champions League football reportedly played a crucial role in swaying Delap's choice, despite having personal terms lined up with United. The 22-year-old ultimately chose the lure of Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford.

Despite this setback, Amorim sees a potential upside to skipping Champions League play next season. Without the demands of European fixtures, he believes there will be more opportunity to prepare and build the team's core for future challenges.

"I have to say that for us not to be in the Champions League could be an advantage to perform better, to prepare better for games, to build that core that we need for the future," reflected Amorim. "So I think it's a good thing for us to take advantage not to have European games."