These Three Facts Indicate That Branthwaite Should Stay at Everton.
Ahead of the team’s last season at Goodison Park, Everton has already had a busy transfer market.
By daring to sell Academy graduate Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa for the “ridiculous” fee of about £10 million, the Blues appear to have already outraged the Premier League (how much did Rhian Brewster and Dominic Solanke go for again?).Tim Iroegbunam, a talented young player, joined from the Villains, and Jack Harrison was signed for a second loan stint on Merseyside.
After spending three and a half years with the Toffees, Ben Godfrey bid farewell to the Blues and joined Atalanta. Versatile forward Iliman Ndiaye then joined from Olympique Marseille for an undisclosed sum.
While Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Amadou Onana’s futures are still uncertain, most Toffees’ wish lists will undoubtedly be topped by a specific young center-half.
Under Sean Dyche, Jarrad Branthwaite has had an outstanding season. The former Carlisle player solidified himself as first choice in the center of Everton’s defense during stints on loan at both Blackburn Rovers and PSV, where he formed an outstanding connection with James Tarkowski.
The 22-year-old, who also made his senior England debut this year, was bound to attract some serious interest from outside admirers after making 35 appearances, scoring three goals, winning the Players’ Player of the Season and Fans’ Young Player of the Season awards, and being named one of the club’s Three Positives of the season by Royal Blue Mersey.
Furthermore, it appears that Everton is standing by their decision to reject a bid that they believe is not commensurate with Branthwaite’s value, despite the indignation of Manchester United, the Premier League, and several media outlets.
We Blues now need to be realistic. Branthwaite is a gifted person who will succeed beyond measure. Strong, tall, adept with the ball, and dangerous in set pieces, it seems likely that the Cumbian-born star will go on to greener pastures unless Everton has a spectacular season in the 2024–2025 campaign.
Something that could yet occur prior to this window closing.
But for the following three reasons, Jarrad Branthwaite ought to give Goodison at least a another year and a half.
It’s a valid point, too. Even if he made an impression at PSV and helped the Dutch powerhouses win the KNVB Cup, the Eredivisie is not the same as the Premier League.
The early red card that halted Branthwaite’s participation in a Goodison match against Brentford during the 2021–2022 Premier League season will live on in his memory, as some have questioned if the rookie defender was really prepared for the big time in England.
But he dispelled doubts fast, emerging as a vital component of Dyche’s defense and a terrace darling.
Even if he doesn’t succeed in the upcoming season, he will remain that way.
Fans of Everton have witnessed Branthwaite’s ascent. His performances and demeanor have won him over the Goodison supporters, who will be more understanding if 2024–25 isn’t quite at the heights of the previous season. He went from being a rising Carlisle talent to a fully-capped international.
Would a large cash transfer to a new team permit that? For that, ask Francis Jeffers. Many competitor supporters, who are now knowledgeable about Everton in particular, argue that Branthwaite is overpriced and overrated.
Strangely, Red Manchester supporters are still a little irate that the deal hasn’t been finalized.