Everton in ‘win-win situation’ with ‘extraordinary’ Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton are in a “win-win situation’ with centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, according to the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele.
The journalist explained that the Goodison Park club can either sell the player this summer or make him Sean Dyche’s “poster boy.”
Branthwaite, who spent last season on loan at Dutch giants PSV, has made 26 appearances in all competitions this season.
“Cash-strapped Everton have a win-win situation in the summer: they could either sell their most valuable asset to give them breathing space in future financial fair play calculations, or keep him and let Branthwaite be the poster boy of Dyche’s ever-improving side,” Steele wrote for the Daily Mail (4 February).
“Everton could set the asking price as high as £100million for the youngster, with England bosses Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland spotted at Goodison Park several times this season keeping an eye on his progress.
“Those close to Branthwaite are not surprised by his supreme talent but the strides he has made this season have been extraordinary.”
Branthwaite shining for Everton
Branthwaite is really making an impact at Goodison Park, with the youngster’s loan spell at PSV last time out certainly doing him massive favours. The 21-year-old will have learned a lot during his temporary stay in the Netherlands, both on and off the pitch.
But Everton manager Dyche also deserves plenty of credit for the player’s development, having eased the centre-back into his starting XI at the beginning of the season.
He is now a mainstay of the team, with his fellow central defender James Tarkowski also crucial to Branthwaite’s performances in a Toffees shirt.
The pair have formed a formidable partnership at the back under Dyche, helped massively by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford behind them.
Worryingly, however, with the financial issues at Goodison Park, selling Branthwaite may be the only option this summer.
There would, however, be one major positive from that potential sale, with the defender certain to bring in a huge fee for the Toffees.
In other Everton news, Gary Neville has predicted a transfer explosion as he dropped a Toffees verdict live on Sky Sports.
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