Everton to command £100m Jarrad Branthwaite bid amid Goodison Park exit speculation
Everton could command a £100million fee for Jarrad Branthwaite to leave Goodison Park next season, according to Chris Beesley.
The Toffees centre-back’s future has been the subject of plenty of speculation, with Manchester United understood to be eager to bring him to Goodison Park, but unwilling to match the £70million asking price [Dharmesh Sheth, 1 July].
Although some have suggested the Blues should drop their valuation, Liverpool Echo journalist Beesley has encouraged Everton to follow West Ham and Declan Rice’s example and stand firm over their demands.
Speaking on the Royal Blue Mersey YouTube channel (2 July, 19:10) he said: “If he has another season where he kicks on even further, given there is a premium around left-sides centre-backs and English homegrown talent, in the future I don’t think it’s fanciful that he could command a £100million fee.
“Grealish has gone for that money, he’s not even at the Euros. Declan Rice as well, so there are two English players there that have both gone for over £100million.
“I think if Branthwaite continues to get better and build on what he did last season and kicks on again next season there’s no reason why we can’t even be talking about £100million.”
Will Everton sell Jarrad Branthwaite in summer transfer window amid Manchester United interest?
The Toffees genuinely have an exceptional talent on their hands at this moment in time and they won’t want to lose him unless they receive a huge transfer fee, whether that is this summer or next.
As Beesley suggests, the market for English players has been massively inflated over the last few years, as has the market for left-sided defenders so it is not unreasonable to suggest Everton may be looking for a nine-figure fee.
Whether or not anyone would be willing to pay that next summer will likely depend on how Branthwaite performs over the next 12 months.
If he continues to develop as expected, he may well be an England regular when that transfer window rolls around which was also bump up his price tag and increase the demand for his signature.
For the Toffees, however, the priority has to be keeping him at Goodison this summer. Hopefully, he won’t be going anywhere despite United’s early interest and will instead play a part in the final season at Goodison.
In other Everton news, a PSR update has emerged at Goodison Park following the Premier League’s unofficial deadline day
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