Everton transfer news: Jarrad Branthwaite bids to start at £50million for Manchester United and Tottenham target
The asking price for Jarrad Branthwaite will likely start at £50million but Everton can’t “contemplate” a sale currently despite interest from Manchester United, according to Dean Jones.
The TEAMtalk journalist told GiveMeSport (8 December) that the Old Trafford “definitely like” the 21-year-old defender and he is one of “few” Premier League players they have their eye on.
Despite the financial situation at Goodison Park and the potentially huge money available from letting the centre back go it would leave a giant hole in Sean Dyche’s side at a key point of the season, although Tottenham are also after him [Sky Sports, 7 December].
Jones said: “You’d imagine like £50 million as a starting point for a player that is young, homegrown and has a big future in the game. But Manchester United definitely like him.
“He is one of the few players within the Premier League that they actually have an eye on for the future, but obviously Everton in the state they’re in right now, they can’t really contemplate a sale from a team perspective, and the fans will just hope that they’re not tempted to cash in.”
Not for sale
It is very simple for Everton that Branthwaite has to stay unless his sale is the only thing standing between them and another profit and sustainability breach down the line.
At this stage of the season even that would surely have to wait until the end of the campaign with Dyche having put together the most well-functioning Toffees unit seen in at least two years at Goodison.
Branthwaite’s return from loan, and ascension to the starting XI in place of Michael Keane, has been a big part of that, and explains why Premier League sides want him.
With Everton battling back from a 10-point penalty the last thing the manager would need is a major piece of his line up being sold out from under him.
That has been all too common for this club, and while it may be a scenario that can’t be avoided at some stage in the future Branthwaite is young enough and new enough as a regular in the team that it should be postponed at the very least.
The former Carlisle United defender has arguably surpassed Amadou Onana and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the prime potential transfer target in the Toffees squad already, but the club have to do all they can to keep him just as they did in the summer.
In other Everton news, the journalist at the centre of the Sky Sports storm prior to the Newcastle win has posted a message direct to supporters.