Rio Ferdinand glad Man Utd target won't be playing for England at the Euros

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand says Jarred Branthwaite is 'not ready' to play for England as Euro 2024 approaches.

The 21-year-old Everton centre-half has been dropped from Gareth Southgate's final 26-man squad taking part in the international competition in Germany this summer, with Brighton's Lewis Dunk, Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa, and Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi all getting the nod ahead of him.

Speaking with Joel Beya and Fara Williams on his FIVE podcast on Monday (June 10), Rio addressed Southgate's setup when the topic of conversation turned to players who had been chosen for the final squad - as well as the fact that Branthwaite had been dropped ahead of the competition.

READ MORE: Germany stunned by Jack Grealish's Euro 2024 snub as Pep Guardiola four-word remark says it all

READ MORE: Man City star Bernardo Silva fires Joao Neves transfer plea amid Man United links

Fara said: "I don't see Branthwaite as a surprise - I know people do but I just don't see it as a surprise," while Ferdinand agreed: "Nor do I. I don't see it as a surprise."

Fara added: "He can defend, he's made blocks, he makes covering runs - but we're talking about an England team that want to play with the ball." Ferdinand went on: "The way that Branthwaite has played this season - and he's done really well at Everton, really well. The clean sheets etc, just the fact that they stayed up and he's been a main part of that is great.

"But he's defending a lot of the time on the edge of his box, like a low block team. England don't want to play like that - England want to have the ball and pass and start attacks, and he hasn't shown that he can do that yet at a top level."

When Fara added that he could have been 'found out', Rio jumped in: "I don't know about found out," adding that he's just 'not ready' yet.

Beya said: "Well maybe he [Southgate] has other options as well, because if you look at someone like Gomes - he can play anywhere across the back. That's an additional option," to which Ferdinand chipped in: "But you've got Guehi. Guehi, when he's played for England, has played well.

"I spoke to Patrick Viera about him ages ago about him when he was a manager and he said 'whatever level he goes to, he'll get to that level'. He's not one of those who goes beyond it or under it, he just gets to where he needs to get to in that level.

"And he's done it when he played for England and he's done it for Palace. He's done well." He added: "I think there were big names been left out but I don't think they were really hard calls for the manager based on what's gone on."

Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.

Manchester United are expected to sign Branthwaite by the end of the month. While a big-money move for Everton would help them avoid another cruel points deduction through Profit and Sustainability rules, the centre-back is considered to be one of the club's biggest assets and they will be hoping to keep a hold of him unless a mega-money deal comes to fruition.

Should a deal fail to be reached for the hot prospect, The Red Devils could instead consider the likes of Guehi, Wolves captain Max Kilman, Juventus' Gleison Bremer or Leverkusen's highly-touted Edmond Tapsoba to name but a few options.