Everton should ignore Jarrad Branthwaite interest despite financial woes and big price tags
Reported losses of £371.8million in the past three years, as per Sky News (26 October), and a subsequent 10-point deduction should not force Everton into selling Jarrad Branthwaite.
The 21-year-old has made 12 league appearances this season, not missing a single minute of Premier League action since Everton’s 4-0 loss to Aston Villa in August. He is indispensable, and a perfect partner to James Tarkowski.
While the club may be able to raise funds with the selling of academy graduate Branthwaite, it would leave an enormous hole in Sean Dyche’s defence and leave the club susceptible to Premier League relegation.
Everton’s defender is one of the most promising centre-backs in the Premier League currently, which is why so many clubs are reportedly interested in claiming his signature.
As reported by Sky Sports on Thursday (7 December), Tottenham are the latest club to be highly interested in the young centre-half, with Ange Postecoglou targeting one of Branthwaite, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, and Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice.
Spurs are enduring an injury crisis right now. With Micky van de Ven’s long absence already being felt, and Cristian Romero’s lack of maturity versus Chelsea, Postecoglou has been forced to use Ben Davies and Emerson Royal, two natural full-backs, in a defensive partnership.
Although Spurs are in a dire situation, Everton’s financial issues may persuade them to make a low-ball offer for the young prospect. Any offer for Branthwaite will be extremely difficult to turn down, but the Toffees should do everything in their power to keep him.
With Michael Keane bound to the bench and Dyche’s trust lost in Ben Godfrey, it would be a near-impossible task to replace Branthwaite if he were to leave in January.
Having signed a new contract keeping him at Goodison Park until 2027, there is no doubt that Branthwaite will want to stay and fight for the Evertonians, who have aided his development since joining the club in 2020.
Selling the player to a club such as Spurs would have short-term benefits, especially financial ones. However, the club could rue the decision in seasons to come, especially if Everton are faced with relegation at the end of this campaign.
In other Everton news, a Toffees-linked player has responded to speculation around his future.