Everton boss David Moyes sounded out his intention of keeping Jarrad Branthwaite and believes the club ‘holds the cards’ on his future despite constant transfer speculation. The young defender has been a rock at the back since Moyes took over in January.
Branthwaite was the subject of two unsuccessful bids from Manchester United last season and they have continued to maintain their interest in him. He has also been on the radar of top clubs and rumours of a big money move this summer continue to float in media outlets.
Moyes, however, is determined to keep his star defender. “Good players will always be linked with moves away, especially good young players,” he said in Friday’s news conference before Everton face Nottingham Forest. “But you have to remember Jarrad’s got a three-year contract left, he’s got two years and a year’s option so if anything Everton hold all the cards regarding that player.”
“But I have to also say over the journey I’ve had over many years at Everton we’ve had to sell different players from Wayne Rooney to Mikel Arteta to Joleon Lescott.
“Apart from being a football manager, especially at certain clubs you have to sell on the journey to try and build as well. But I wouldn’t think that Jarrad one of the players I would want to lose, that’s for sure.”
Everton, who are 15 points above the drop zone thanks to a resurgent form where they went nine matches unbeaten under Moyes, are starting to look ahead. Work has already begun on the recruitment as the Blues approach a critical summer transfer window and a rebuild could be on the cards.
Including players on loan, Everton have 15 players who are set to be out of contract this summer but all decisions on player renewals are on hold until safety has been mathematically ensured.
“We’ve started to look forward,” Moyes said. ‘First and foremost, the job is to make sure we’re a Premier League club. If we weren’t, then obviously things would be completely different but I believe now that we’ve probably got enough points to be a Premier League club. Mathematically, that isn’t completely correct but we are starting to plan, starting to look forward.
“We’ll talk about the players’ contracts probably when we are mathematically safe because then at least we can start to understand exactly what the finances will look like. So hopefully, in a week or two’s time, we’ll be able to start looking at players’ contracts and what we’re going to do.”