Everton need to strengthen this summer if the Toffees are to avoid a third successive Premier League relegation battle.
But funds are certain to be very tight at Goodison Park over the coming months, meaning Sean Dyche will be forced to look from within for inspiration going forward.
And he needn’t look any further than youngster Jarrad Branthwaite, who can fill the gap at the back effortlessly following his loan spell with PSV.
The 21-year-old’s future on Merseyside remains up in the air, but keeping him at the club could save Dyche millions, as well as providing James Tarkowski with a capable central defensive partner.
Branthwaite gained crucial experience in the Netherlands as he made 36 appearances in all competitions for his temporary club, where he chipped in with four goals and two assists in the final third.
Journalist Matt Jones noted that the youngster would ideally be third choice at the Toffees next season, writing for the Liverpool Echo: “Ideally, he would be third choice next season behind James Tarkowski and another senior partner in the Mina mould. But a player of that calibre may be beyond a cash-strapped Everton.”
But Dyche could do a lot worse than throwing the youngster in at the deep end. Branthwaite is currently picking up more invaluable experience as he plays for England Under-21s in the European Championship, with that tournament helping his progression massively.
Also allowing him to improve would be a spot beside the hugely experienced Tarkowski at the heart of defence next season, with the ex-Burnley man one of the few standouts in blue last time out.
As per GIVEMESPORT (21 June), journalist Paul Brown noted that, amid the uncertainty surrounding his future, Branthwaite is unlikely to leave Everton this summer, and that should be welcome news to Dyche ahead of the new campaign.
Leave a Reply