Jarrad Branthwaite set for Everton exit after what he said – Goodison insider
Bryan King believes Jarrad Branthwaite will no longer be an Everton player next season despite the defender’s recent admission.
The ex-Everton scout feels that the 21-year-old’s time at Goodison Park is all but over.
That is despite Branthwaite recently insisting that he is focussed entirely on the Toffes, amid speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United (via Liverpool Echo, 7 April).
Following the 1-0 win over Burnley at Goodison Park (6 April), the centre-back said, “You have just got to block it all out. I think if you focus on the outside stuff, you get distracted from what you need to do on the pitch.
“For me now, until the end of the season, I am just focussed on winning games for Everton Football Club.”
However, King – speaking exclusively to Goodison News – feels that this isn’t something supporters should read too much into.
“Branthwaite is not saying anything that he shouldn’t be saying,” King said.
“He should be focused on Everton, but to me, he sounds like a player who knows he will be off this summer.
“It is easy to say things, but I think he knows he has got a transfer on the cards, so for him it is just about keeping his head down, keeping his nose clean and then when it comes to the summer that is when a deal will be done.”
Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite likely to quit Goodison Park this summer
With all the problems surrounding Everton, keeping hold of Branthwaite could prove very difficult.
He has been one of the Premier League’s most impressive centre-backs this season and will have attracted plenty of interest from around Europe.
While the player is likely to want to make the move, it could also be important for Everton to sell him in a desperate attempt to balance the books.
In other Everton news, King has labelled the Premier League a “laughing stock” after what a Luton Town star said last week.
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