Sky Sports pundit expects Jarrad Branthwaite to leave Everton, scoffs at Jose Mourinho
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Jarrad Branthwaite could leave Everton permanently because there aren’t enough opportunities available to him in the first team, says Kevin Campbell.
The 20-year-old centre-back has been on loan at PSV during the first half of the season, and the future of that move is still uncertain amid unhappiness at Goodison Park over the amount of game time he has been getting, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma are interested in a £4.3million permanent move according to Forza Roma (9 December).
Sky Sports pundit Campbell can’t see any way past Conor Coady and James Tarkowski, with other back-ups in the way as well, so has tipped Branthwaite to leave, but scoffed at the low valuation that Mourinho apparently wants him for.
“Sometimes managers see different thing,” he said, speaking exclusively to Goodison News.
“Right now I don’t see him getting a chance because Conor Coady and James Tarkowski have been excellent for Everton.
“And obviously you’ve got players coming back from injury, so maybe there isn’t a future as it stands right now.
“But I know there’s going to be a lot of change, because there’s quite a few players who are out of contract in the summer.
“But sometimes getting the money in and being able to utilise the money [is more valuable].“
He then added, laughing: “And yeah, £4million? Come on. Mourinho’s trying it on isn’t he? He’s trying it on at £4million.
“The player staying at the club, I don’t think there’s enough opportunities for him to stay.”
It doesn’t say a huge amount for the club’s defensive recruitment in recent years that there feels like an endless supply of centre-backs with little to no future at the club.
It is a good job they got hold of Coady and Tarkowski ahead of this season, and with Yerry Mina and Michael Keane likely to move on in the near future there could be room for Branthwaite to stick around for a while as back up.
But with cash tight, if Roma are that interested then Everton could do a lot worse than moving him on now if they don’t expect him to be a starter any time and the money is right.