Everton to listen to transfer offers for defenders as Jake O’Brien arrives for Toffees medical
Everton are ready to listen to offers for a pair of central defenders as Jake O’Brien closes in on completing his move from Lyon, The Guardian reports.
According to a report on the paper’s website on 29 July the futures of Michael Keane and Mason Holgate are in doubt, but the Republic of Ireland international’s arrive has not changed the stance on selling star man Jarrad Branthwaite.
O’Brien, 23, has arrived on Merseyside for his medical ahead of a £17million move from Ligue 1 as the Toffees look to have triumphed over various interested clubs in the Premier League.
Everton insist that Branthwaite is still not for sale for anything less than his asking price after two cut-price bids from Manchester United [David Ornstein, 13 July], but are open to offers for Keane, 31, and Holgate, 27.
Michael Keane and Mason Holgate could leave Everton, but Jarrad Branthwaite set to stay
If the O’Brien deal is completed it should leave Sean Dyche with a strong rotation of three starting-quality central defenders with Branthwaite and James Tarkowski.
Further exits have been tipped as inevitable since Dan Friedkin’s takeover collapsed and the strong stance on Branthwaite is only a negotiating tactic [Talking The Blues, 20 July].
The true position on whether cash must be brought in while the window is still open likely won’t emerge until the final days before the deadline when the pressure is on both buyers and sellers.
But as things stand O’Brien provides a solid replacement for Branthwaite at worst, and even a potential upgrade on Tarkowski as a starter at best.
The drop off from the current regular partnership to Keane and Holgate is substantial and would leave Dyche at risk to injury and suspension.
Keane has been somewhat tainted by his role in some of the more chaotic Everton back lines in recent seasons and has only made 21 Premier League appearances in the past two years.
Holgate surely needs a move even more after just eight league outings in that time and a pair of difficult loans at Southampton and Sheffield United last term.
So if Kevin Thelwell can find a way to bring in any cash for either of the two Englishman it should help guard against any need to lose the big-name third in Branthwaite.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are weighing up a new approach to sign a Premier League striker.
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