Everton have right to terminate Jarrad Branthwaite loan as PSV talks underway
Everton and PSV are deep in discussion over how to handle Jarrad Branthwaite’s loan deal, with Voetbal International reporting that the Toffees have the option to terminate his stay.
Frank Lampard will have his sights set on January and improving his current Everton squad, but one option available to him is adding some defensive depth through Branthwaite.
The 20-year-old headed out to the Netherlands to pick up some much-needed game time, and he’s settled in brilliantly at PSV, who would love to keep him for the second half of the season.
However, as reported by Dutch outlet VI: “Everton has the right to bring the defender back because he has not played enough. Agreements on this are laid down in the rental agreement.”
They add that PSV would prefer for Branthwaite to stay put in the Netherlands for the remainder of the season.
Could be needed
Branthwaite’s loan deal occurred in the summer because Everton found themself stacked with talent at centre-back. The arrivals of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski pushed back everyone else in the pecking order.
Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey have all been awaiting their chance to play, and so Branthwaitte would arguably have been Everton’s sixth-choice centre-back had he stayed.
But there’s a very good chance that Lampard will offload some of the defensive deadwood still floating about Goodison Park.
The Athletic have already cast doubt over the future of Holgate and Keane, and losing both in January would very quickly open up a space in the squad for Branthwaite to fill.
If PSV aren’t fully committing to giving the young defender playing time in the Eredivisie, then Branthwaite may be better off training and picking up the occasional few minutes in Merseyside.