Journalist outlines ‘biggest fight’ Everton face after what happened in front of Kevin Thelwell vs Chelsea
The “biggest fight” Everton now face in the January transfer window is keeping hold of centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, according to journalist Joe Thomas.
With director of football Kevin Thelwell watching on from the stands, along with England manager Gareth Southgate, Branthwaite put in yet another assured display in Sunday’s (10 December) 2-0 win over Chelsea.
As shared by Thomas in an article for the Liverpool Echo [10 December], one moment in particular from the 21-year-old had fans out of their seats late on in the game, and would no doubt have been seen by other Premier League clubs.
“In the fourth minute of stoppage time Everton had already clinched a win over Chelsea but Jarrad Branthwaite was celebrating for a different reason,” Thomas said.
“Perhaps sensing the chance for personal glory, Conor Gallagher surged through on goal before being brought down in a crashing heap by a sliding Branthwaite.
“In the directors’ box, next to director of football Kevin Thelwell, Gareth Southgate had been looking on. He could have been in Liverpool to watch any one of a number of England internationals.
“The one that should have caught his attention was the player he has not yet called up. Everton’s biggest fight in January will not be against relegation. It will be in stopping the advances of clubs desperate to sign their fledgling star.”
England cap awaits
Everton fans have known for a while they have an absolute gem on their hands in Branthwaite, and it will indeed prove tough to fend off interest from rivals clubs next year – and there will definitely be interest.
Given the Toffees’ delicate financial situation, it may well be that a mega offer is considered, whether that be in January or at the end of the campaign.
Should Branthwaite earn an England call-up prior to the Euros, you can expect an extra few million to be added onto his price tag.
Thelwell will no doubt do all he possibly can to keep hold of the hugely talented defender, though, and the fact he has four-and-a-half years to run on his contract only works in the Toffees’ favour.
With every standout display such as the one against Chelsea, it will only heighten supporters’ fears that someone like Manchester City, or indeed Mauricio Pochettino’s men, could pounce.
Let’s just hope Branthwaite sticks around at Goodison Park for a few more years yet before then possibly departing for a nice profit.
In other Everton news, a Sky Sports pundit has urged Chelsea to sell a number of their players in response to what happened against the Toffees.