Everton: Manchester City eye repeat transfer raid as Jarrad Branthwaite emulates John Stones
Manchester City have turned their focus towards Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite due to him showing similarities for former Toffees defender John Stones, according to the Daily Mail.
The paper reported via their website on 24 March that the English centre-back is now of interest at the Etihad in addition to the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Real Madrid amid a “stand-out season despite Everton’s ongoing relegation battle”.
The three factors that are particularly said to have drawn the treble winners to the 21-year-old are his age, the fact that he would count as a homegrown player in Pep Guardiola’s squad, and the fact that he is demonstrating “technical traits” similar to predecessor Stones.
Stones left Goodison Park for City eight years ago in a £47.5million deal [Sky Sports] and has increasingly been used in midfield over the past couple of seasons.
Deja vu for Everton as Manchester City eye defensive star?
City may already have Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, then spent £77.6m on Josko Gvardiol last summer [Sky Sports, 5 August] but that apparently doesn’t rule them out of the race for Branthwaite.
The idea of the Toffees youngster playing in midfield might seem bizarre given how important he has been at the back for Sean Dyche, but his talent is already clear and if he continues to develop similarly to Stones it might not be so surprising.
That the likes of City and Real are interested in singing Branthwaite should be evidence enough that Everton must do all the can to avoid losing him at this stage.
But with so many unanswered questions off the pitch there remains the risk that it might be taken out of their hands to a degree.
Dyche indicated there was no issue currently that would see them have to let the defender leave, but with the 777 takeover still in doubt and the possibility of a second points deduction on the way the situation could yet become more perilous.
There is reportedly an alternative bidder ready to step in should 777’s deal with Farhad Moshiri fall through, and there have been predictions that the club can avoid another points sanction altogether.
So if, for once, things fall in Everton’s favour perhaps they will remain in a strong enough position to hold off the mounting transfer interest in their star defender.
In other Everton news, private views from Moshiri’s and 777’s camps have emerged on the chances their deal will be successful.
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