Everton want £100m for Jarrad Branthwaite amid Tottenham, Manchester United transfer interest as insiders share pressure update
Everton are not under pressure to sell Jarrad Branthwaite despite the uncertainty surrounding the takeover, insiders have told i News.
According to Mark Douglas on the outlet’s website (20 December) the Toffees have put a £100million price tag on the centre-back with his displays this season having led to transfer interest from Tottenham, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.
The “huge premium” on the 21-year-old reportedly reflects the desire at Everton to keep hold of the “Rolls Royce” defender who they believe will be an England regular for years to come.
Despite the proposed takeover of the club by 777 Partners still unresolved, while the Americans have been bankrolling the day-to-day running with monthly loans, the Toffees insist they aren’t obliged to do a deal for Branthwaite on the grounds of financial pressure.
So it should be
For nine-figures there will still be plenty of Evertonians who wouldn’t want to see Branthwaite go anywhere, likely including Sean Dyche.
The Toffees boss installed the former PSV Eindhoven loanee in place of Michael Keane for the third game of the season against Wolves (26 August) and hasn’t looked back since, until a yellow card suspension kept the youngster out of the previous victory over Burnley.
His partnership with James Tarkowski at the back has been a huge part of the form that would have Everton pushing for the European places if it weren’t for the 10 points deducted last month.
The club have remained consistent in the face of transfer interest for months now, and clearly they were right to do so as Branthwaite is emerging as a Premier League star in the making.
Even at £100m there might be clubs tempted if he continues in the same vein given the value of a stand-out centre-back, but with a contract that expires in 2027 it looks like Everton have for once got their affairs in order on an emerging star.
Off-field financial concerns have too often proven the undoing of any such plans, so it is hugely significant if the club are convinced that won’t be the case here.
And with a transfer race suddenly erupting around Amadou Onana at somewhere around half the asking price of Branthwaite that may mean the Toffees are also able to bat that away, unless they are expecting a deal to be done for the midfielder and that is what makes them confident with the defensive stand-out.
In other Everton news, Dyche wants to buy an important attacking player as transfer details have emerged on a possible deal.