Sky Sports pundit can see Everton exit for Jarrad Branthwaite amid Manchester United interest
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Everton badly need to improve at centre back and may sell Jarrad Branthwaite to help bring in the players they want according to Kevin Campbell.
The Daily Mail reported last weekend that Manchester United are targeting the 19-year-old due to his stature and technical ability.
And while Sky Sports pundit Campbell rates the young defender he can imagine that he might be one of the players sacrificed when Frank Lampard starts to reshape the squad.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News he said: “I think Everton have to really step up their centre-backs, they really have to upgrade as far as I’m concerned.
“It’s nothing against Branthwaite because I think he’s a really good player, but I think there needs to be probably two or three main centre-halves in front of him that can really help him.
“The inconsistencies and injuries and all that kind of thing that’s been going on, he’s had to come in, he’s a young man, a good player, but he hasn’t had that dominent centre-half partnership where you can come in and they can nurture you through games. I just don’t think that’s been the case.
“So I think it’s a difficult one and Everton might have to sell some people, they might have to to get in who they want.
“And if that’s the case then obviously he might be one that they’ll consider, but do Everton need to do it? No they don’t.”
The teenager was highly rated by Carlo Ancelotti, and in his handful of first-team appearances has largely done well.
But in a struggling side he hasn’t been in the environment that effectively aids development.
Even so, he seems like the sort of player that the manager would identify as one of the building blocks to the squad of the future, so it would be disappointing if he was allowed to leave.
In other Everton news, the Toffees should “chill out” and let one player who made a crucial difference to a recent win speak to other clubs.
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