Everton inform Manchester United that Branthwaite is not for sale

Now take a hike.

A fire-sale scenario can no longer be ruled out. Branthwaite could well have played his last game in an Everton shirt. (With a badge that remains stuck on!)

Typical shite from this club.

Spurs did it with Kane. If it is not essential to sell him, and it seems not, stand firm.

Now tell them to bite me.

If they want Jarrad, then they can pay the money Chelsea spunked on Caicedo last summer or they can just go and get those leaks fixed and fuck off.

Everton have let players go on the cheap too often over the years, the only time we've ever stood our ground was the summer of 2015 and it worked out in our favour because Man City came knocking a year down the line with a fatter wallet.

It's therefore a bit like texting a girl to say "we're no longer exclusive" a few weeks after she started dating someone else...

Horrible arrogant club where Ratcliffe appears to fit in well.

Manchester United chanced it coming in with low bids. I'm glad Everton stood their ground.

Anyone who has watched him, can see he has class above his young years.

He is going to be a star. Let's keep him for as long as we can.

We are building for the future, not the past, and any new owners who can help us on the way and bring about that success will reap the benefits, once we have a few seasons under our belt.

What's all the negative comments? If they don't come back in for us, someone else will. Branthwaite is going nowhere, lad.

Glass half-full.

A girl I went to school with was in the waiting room and she asked what I was in for and by way of a fairly awkward joke I said "Herpes". And she said "No way, me too."

So I just let that one go...

Only time will tell I guess, especially after the Friedkin deal being called off.

Oh for some stability at our club!!

He has some learning to do!

He has also not budged on the price he wants for the club after Friedkin was trying to scare creditors into taking less than they are owed — at least if what was reported is correct. When that failed, they very probably tried to get Moshiri to take less.

Maybe we are not as potless as most outsiders and most of us seem to think we are!

All hearsay and guesswork, I know; it's all we have.

I doubt if Usmanov is far from the background, although I can't see how he would be allowed to become involved again.

When asked what it was, she said it was Hermes. Seems she was a carrier.

I'm sure they'd be terribly upset if Man Utd met our asking price.

Why go out of our way to “inform” Man Utd of anything? We've turned down their bids, we don't need to do anything else.

Sounds like slow news day journalism, ie, made up!

Absolutely spot on.

I certainly don't need a memo from Megan Fox to clarify she has no interest in me.

As the old joke goes — What's the difference between true love and herpes? Herpes is for ever!

Hope we stick to our guns on the Branthwaite issue. He is a class act and it appears Man Utd is not!

I have no doubt other bids of around £60M would be enough for a change of heart and mind.

But at least we sound committed in trying to keep our better players.

The other bit of worrying news in this story is our willingness to sell Calvert-Lewin rather than Branthwaite. We have enough issues scoring goals without relying purely on Beto and Chermiti! He may not be prolific but a fit and firing DCL makes us play so much better.

Also worrying is that, in all the transfer gossip you hear on Everton, never does it seem to mention a right-back… It's only been 5 years that we needed to replace Coleman!

Everton will offer … Jarrad Branthwaite a vastly improved contract to compensate for him missing out on an Old Trafford pay bonanza … believed to be £160,0000 a week.

Branthwaite looks set to start the new season still at Goodison Park on a salary of around £40,000-a-week.

But for not long because plans are in place for their outstanding defender to receive a new contract complete with a huge pay rise to try and ward off any other interest.

The Wigton-born defender insists he hasn't been phased by the transfer talk and is happy to remain a Toffee.

It will be interesting to track just how much Everton end up giving the lad, as a 4x hike in pay is not something to be sneezed at.

Meanwhile, Andrew, there's a free agent out there who Everton might be tracking to bolster our lamentable strikeforce… Hopefully the name of Martin Braithwaite won't cause too much confusion and misspellings down the road!

OMG... he's 33! Er... not happening surely.

Also, isn't there an Ecuadorean right-back linked on these very pages?

But back then we also had the bank pressuring Chairman Bill to reduce the overdraft. Fortunately we are not in such dire financial straits as then.

Oh, wait a minute?

Might we soon be asking the perennial question: "Where's the Branthwaite money?"

We can't afford to lose him on deadline day for £10 million, we need to be getting him out the door this month if he's not committed to staying.

The Onana thing to Villa surely that's done already too, £50 million plus add ons I've heard.

Be looking to move out Holgate for a nominal fee and get him off the wage bill too, surely someone takes him for £3 million.

The situation with Calvert-Lewin is much more complex. If there was a bid for the player of, say, £35M, then we could issue an ultimatum of sign the extension or be sold. Without such a bid, we are in a fix and everyone is playing a fairly cagey waiting game.

We may yet sell to the likes of West Ham or Newcastle (or possibly even the likes of Spurs and Man Utd who both need a "focal point" striker, albeit not necessarily as a regular starter).

However, even if West Ham, say, do decide to offer the £35M, Calvert-Lewin could just sit out the final 12 months of his contract and probably get a move to a Champions League club like AC Milan or Atletico Madrid or even Arsenal on a free transfer next summer. That might be his best option, albeit a poor outcome for the club.

At Villa, that'll be £50M then!

Calvert-Lewin is going to be an interesting one. I'm like you, I can't see where he fits in as a regular starter at the clubs you mention.

Just keep Branthwaite and don't do an exchange for Harry Maguire.

The days of issuing ultimatums of this type are long gone. Irrespective of the price offered by any club, Calvert-Lewin has to be satisfied with the deal or he can opt to see out his contract.

Previously they only had to mention they were interested in a player and they assumed that a player would jump ship, such was their arrogance.

Those days have long gone, and hopefully this sends the right message that we are not a feeder club to any other.

You have to laugh at some of the Man Utd fans forums. They say the club won't be mugged into paying over the odds for a 22-year-old, who's got Premier League experience.

And yet what do they do? Pay £52M for an 18-year-old, with experience of playing in a league similar to Scotland, and was entering the final year of his contract.

Who's the mugs now, Lille saw Man Utd coming a mile off!

Mugs! 😂😂😂😂

Branthwaite — £60M
Calvert-Lewin — £18M
Onana — £40M
Pickford — £35M

I'm not saying I want any of them to go but, based on remaining contract and form, I think we would accept offers in that region.

Other squad players to get shut:

Holgate — £2.5M
Keane — £4M

I believe we must sell before we buy. Onana to Villa is dragging on, if it's true?

We must surely cash in on Dom for £15M+ whilst we can. I believe Chermiti will be a good replacement but happy if we get a better striker.

We pay £10M-£15M in add ons and everyone is happy. I know it'll never happen but it's the dream scenario for me.

I have to say, if we can get Lindstrøm from Juventus, Phillips from Man City and Gnonto from Leeds and hang on to the rest of our star players, I think we will have the makings of a pretty good team.

The one big question mark is Calvert-Lewin. Nobody is clambering to sign him and so it looks like he will run down his contract, which will not be good news. If he wants to move on, that is his decision, but we need to replace him quickly.

I think Chermiti is a diamond in the rough and I think, if we can get him playing first-team football, he will progress quickly and may even push DCL into second spot.

I am just keeping my fingers crossed that all of this comes to fruition.

Chermiti seems to have some great touches and should come on in leaps and bounds this coming season.

I'm not sure that Chermiti is a winger (though he is pretty decent at dribbling) but he could maybe play that second striker or No 10 role that we saw Doucoure in last year. Though I think and hope this is where Ndiaye has been bought to play.

I do think that Chermiti is capable of playing lone striker (or developing into one) — and that might be where we need him the most.

Good on yer, Amadou.

Also told from a reliable source that the Friedkin takeover is not completely dead. 🤞🤞🤞

Are you back meeting with “Deepthroat” in Calderstones Park again?

Onana obviously thinking short-term, but like you say, good on him. He gets Champions League rather than a team that finished 8th last season. Not much better than us if you shave off the points deduction.

Still on the lookout for Seamus as well, but doubt very much I will see Anthony Gordon in Caldies again.

The number of goals Calvert-Lewin would get with James in and around him, would increase his worth and increase the number of clubs wanting to have his services.

Come on, Thelwell, you know it makes sense!!

And then I woke up!

Yes, his contract has been terminated at Palmeiras and the player has said he's up for coming back to Europe, but Everton and Sean Dyche? Hmm. I can't imagine Dyche going for him.

I've read that Man Utd, Real Madrid, and Barca have shown some interest, though this could all be bollocks of course.

I'm also reading that we have an 'interest' in Richard Rios, another Colombian. This could have some legs, given that James and Mina both played for us. A young kid with a bright future, could see Everton as a good stepping stone to bigger things.

Look at his stats in the last 3 seasons of 38 games per season he has made 66 appearances missing 48 games. In this period he has scored 14 goals (Wikipedia entry).

Last season, Anthony Gordon made 35 appearances and scored 11 goals (Wikipedia entry)

As for Man Utd, this is our problem. Do we not have a no contact clause (before or after Rooney's Golf game with his agent, Sir Alex)?

Last week, it was reported that Bruno Fernandes had requested permission to speak to another club; did we get such a request from Branthwaite or Man Utd?

Ditto for the young centre-back we just sold or released; he would have been a perfect match with Branthwaite or replacement in 2 years time.

If Dyche stays and does not use youth from our ranks next season, we will see a lot of outgoings.

James just got awarded player of the tournament at the Copa America, and scored an absolute belter against the USA. He can still play and at least we'd be fun to watch with him in the squad.

Also, he's very high profile in a World sense, and it would be great for revenue and raising our profile ahead of moving to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Also, our last season at Goodison deserves a player of his quality gracing God's acre for one last dance. Fun, no?

Aston Villa have Onana, Dobbin, Digne and Ross Barkley in their first team this season.

Many notable players Everton get are nothing but lukewarm when they get here, if not becoming long-term sick-notes.

Maybe I just like the fantasy of it — I'm so bored of watching second-rate, dull footballers play dull, second-rate football. James would be fun to watch, which would make a change being an Evertonian.

Can you imagine him being coached by Sean Dyche? No, me neither!

After all the crap of the last week, just the thought of James Rodriguez and Dele Alli in our midfield brings a smile.. but it's just me dreaming isn't it?
It will never happen.

But in my land of nod, it can...

I just hope that the Onana 'deal' involves currency. Cold hard cash — not a Kenwright-u-like crock of shit.

And we're still waiting for the arrival of a goal scorer. Does Thelwell know what one is? And more importantly, which one of the two rectangular netted apparatus the football needs to penetrate frequently? Certainly more than he has managed since arriving.

I checked for his achievements (because I really am unimpressed with him) and it totals nil that I could find.

No academy glory at Wolves; he was kind of credited with being involved in Wolves' promotion to the Premier League but that was massively generous.

It was Nuno's mate Jorge who offed loads of superb young footballing talent to help his mate out.

Thelwell had nothing to do with it as is proved by zero superb Portuguese or Hispanic talent since his arrival. His biggest feat was re-titling the names of jobs in the club's football structure.

He has written a book on coaching. Not that it has been held as anything other than a doorstop.

I looked at our U21s and last season they finished 25th (out of 26) in Premier League 2.

The whole thing is based on hot air and bullshit.

Deeply troubling.

James: OK boss what you want me to do?

Dyche: Give Pickford a workout, take shots from outside the area!

James: OK boss, left foot or right foot?

Dyche: What? Any bloody foot!

James: OK boss, do you want me to score?

Dyche: look, score if you can, I'm going to get a cuppa, any problems Steve here will help.

James: OK boss..

Dyche: (muttering under his breath) OK boss..

20 mins later Steve finds Dyche..

Steve Stone: Er.. boss..

Dyche: Don't you bloody start... what's up?

Steve: It's James Sean.. I've told him to rest for a bit..

Dyche: look, he'll get used to the training.. did he give the keeper a good workout?

Steve: That just it Sean, Jordon never got to make any saves..

Dyche: Jesus Steve, bloody James, what's he done now?

Steve: Nothing Sean, that's just it.. you told him to take shots from outside the area he did.. 15 mins with left foot, then 15 mins with right..

Dyche: Christ was it that bad?

Steve: Er no Sean... he scored everytime...

James: Hi boss, can I try with two keepers in goal now?

Rob H (#61) has, quite rightly, never revealed his secret source. Perhaps he will when his memoirs are published?

I'm sure the kid who scored two in Sligo on Friday night is from Portugal…

But Dyche is currently a better fit for the club, so we need to get used to non-exciting football.

The "excitement" comes off the pitch, in boardrooms and courtrooms.

You rate Chermiti as superb. Okay.
Well, I may agree with you by the end of the forthcoming season. I do hope so.

Christine, lol. I would welcome James back.
COYB

I agree, I think Chermiti does totally unexpected things, link him with either Branthwaite or McNeil and I think they would be a 20+ goal pair.

We are creating lots of chances but we are missing clinical finishers.

Hopefully we can find one or two more of this type this summer.

Not sure about Calvert-Lewin. If he gets a couple or three in his first few outings, then he might put in a season.

Branthwaite is staying, simply because Man City hasn't done their usual and flicked the mortals out of the way and gotten what they desire.

Fingers crossed too for Chim Chim Chermiti!

I have exactly the same feeling about Beto! The boy has power and grit!