Chelsea not expected to move for Jarrad Branthwaite

Not surprising. Which raises the question, in world football - which clubs could conceivably spend £70m on a centre back?

Arsenal: already have Gabriel and Kiwior for the LCB spot - with Saliba, Calafiori and Timber also. They need to spend on a goalscorer, not a CB.

Chelsea: already have Colwill and Badiashile for the LCB spot - with Chalobah, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Fofana and Anselmino also. They might upgrade the CB position, but more likely a right footer to play alongside Colwill (whom they might already rate higher than Branthwaite).

Liverpool: need a replacement for the aging VVD - alongside Konate and the overrated Gomez and Quansah.

Man City: have just spent big on on Reis (€37.00m) and Khusanov (€40.00m) - and already have Ake and Gvardiol for the LCB spot (along with Akanji, Stones and Dias more generally). Seems very unlikely they would buy another expensive CB.

Man Utd: have Martinez for the LCB spot in a back 3 - alongside expensive signings DeLigt and Yoro (who plays on the right). Have the underrated Maguire also. He's not as shit as made out - they just overpaid. They could move for Branthwaite again, but possibly have bigger problems to resolve - and may move for a back 3 specialist like Hincapie of Leverkusen who would be cheaper, or Ignacio whom Amorim has already worked with for the LCB position.

Newcastle: not sure if they do have the money due to PSR - but I could see Eddie Howe being keen. He is obviously miles better than Burn (who still does a good job for them) and Schar and Botman too. Possible.

Bayern: Branthwaite would slot in well alongside Upamacano - but they already have Kim and Ito. He's the sort of signing they would line up as a free in 2027, rather than spend big now. In any case they already have Leverkusen's Tah coming in on a free for the coming season.

PSG: well he's not going to get in the team ahead of the excellent Pacho and Marquinhos. They already have Beraldo (talented young Brazilian) and Kimpembe in reserve - and a big stock of youth academy defenders too. I think they'd go for a Latin talent, rather than British if they were to enter the market for a CB.

Real: they have just spent €60.00m on Bournemouth's Huijsen, to along with Militao, Rudiger, Ascensio and Alaba. They are not going to spend big on another CB now.

Barca: they have weak central defence - and need to upgrade if they are to kick on as a club. They will build around Cubarsi who is only 18 - and the good but not great Araujo, Christensen and Garcia. Again, I think they'd go for a Latin talent, rather than British if they were to enter the market for a CB. They aren't awash with cash.

So, that's it. I reckon the likeliest destination if he moves this summer is (in this order) the RS, Newcastle and Man Utd. Make of that what you will.

Robert, you've covered most clubs but perhaps Spurs.

Possibly, Ian. I ruled out Villa and Spurs on the basis I thought it was too unlikely.

Here goes:

Spurs - they already have Van der Ven as a big left-footed centre-back and he is very good. They may consider him better than Branthwaite already. Romero and Dragusin are also talented defenders – and if they get a manager who can actually organise a defence, this lot should flourish. I doubt they'd be looking to spend £70M on a centre-back. The biggest issues for the new manager will be finding an heir to Son (if that isn't going to be Moore or Odobert) and a replacement for the overpriced and average Solanke (which could be the on-loan Tel).

Villa – finished outside of the top 5 and so won't get the financial benefit of Champions League. They already have Pau Torres as a high-quality left-footed centre-back. They don't really need Branthwaite and surely wouldn't pay £70M for a centre-back.

So I still reckon the likeliest destination this summer (if he goes) will be Liverpool, Newcastle and Man Utd – in that order.

Spurs are the biggest joke in football.

If he goes there, his career is over. Absolute graveyard.

They might be a joke but they are in the Champions League, Nick, with a large squad of talented players.

They are in much better shape than we are, unfortunately. but for reasons set out in my previous post, I don't think they will show any interest in Branthwaite.

If he moves, it will be for a high fee that we dictate. I don't understand the economics, but I feel this is going to be a very different Everton. Rather than "how much can you pay", it will be "this is the price, take it or leave it".

I don't believe he will leave this summer, but if he does, he would want Champion's League, whether that be home or abroad. I could see him at somewhere like Bayern or maybe Juventus, but hopefully we can offer him European football in after next season.

Villa won't feature. My understanding is that they are sailing close to the PSR cliff, as many clubs are, and may have to sell some of their best players, even Ollie Watkins, before they can think about incoming transfers.

Chelsea will have to play it careful too. Although they do have the benefit of Champions League, they are fast approaching debt on a Manchester United scale. They have also done some creative accounting, effectively selling their hotel and women's team to themselves!!!

Very unpopular American owners as well, who haven't endeared themselves to their supporters.

It will be interesting to see who Tottenham appoint. There is talk of Thomas Frank and the easy one for journalists being Pochettino. Just all talk as usual.

I suspect he will wait till the end of this window and, if nothing doing, will sign a hugely upgraded contract with us.

Insert a hefty buy-out clause, please!