The i Paper understands that Manchester United remain interested in Jarrad Branthwaite – as do Liverpool and Tottenham, while Newcastle have discussed him in the past – but that Everton are in no mood to sell a player who is under contract until 2027 as they contemplate wholesale changes in the close season. Indeed any bids for the defender would need to come close to the £80M valuation that they set last summer to even begin the conversation.
The prospect of a new contract for Branthwaite – which would secure the 22-year-old’s long-term future – is one scenario being considered at Everton although no talks have yet taken place. It is understood that could be revisited in the summer, when there will be a huge overhaul of David Moyes’s squad.
A source said the club are likely to be “ruthless” in their contract calls, with Moyes keen to rebuild the team and have them aiming towards the European places rather than the relegation fight that has become the norm. Everton are looking towards a mix of youth and experience but Moyes is also keen on player availability, with the club less likely to take a chance on those with injury question marks hanging over their head.
After a fairly low-key start to life under The Friedkin Group, we can expect a bit more tubthumping when new chief executive Angus Kinnear gets to work later this year. The word is that the relative silence from the top on the club’s ambitions in future years is deliberate: they want to leave space for Kinnear and company to stamp their mark.
But fans are bound to judge the club on one thing: the quality of incoming recruitment this summer. I’d expect that to be sound, with Moyes understood to want Premier League quality and Everton keen to take the squad up “several notches”. They are prowling around players that “would surprise you”, according to one insider.