Chelsea have identified Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite as a top centre-back target for the summer transfer window, following yet another impressive campaign for the commanding centre-half.
chelsea-premier-league Related
[£47m star has already agreed to join Chelsea with club talks "to follow"](https://www.footballfancast.com/chelsea-transfers-fabrizio-romano-jamie-gittens-update/ "£47m star has already agreed to join Chelsea with club talks "to follow"")
Enzo Maresca's side are busy behind-the-scenes amid their Club World Cup campaign.
This time last summer, much to the bemusement of fans and critics alike, Branthwaite was a surprise omission from Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024 - but he's since taken that rejection in his stride.
Chelsea's best performers in the Premier League last season Average match rating
Cole Palmer 7.33
Moises Caicedo 7.02
Enzo Fernández 6.95
Nicolas Jackson 6.88
Noni Madueke 6.82
via WhoScored
The 22-year-old starred for Everton again last term, playing a key role as David Moyes' side comfortably avoided the drop, and supporters will be hoping that Branthwaite will repeat those same feats at their new home on Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
Five years after Carlo Ancelotti handed Branthwaite his senior top flight debut against Wolves, followed by a succession of productive loan spells at the likes of Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven, the towering 6 foot 5 starlet is now a wanted man across the Premier League.
jarrad branthwaite
His growing list of admirers includes Chelsea, with the addition of a centre-back still on Enzo Maresca's to-do list after the west Londoners missed out on a deal for Dean Huijsen, who eventually chose to join Real Madrid instead.
Chelsea made contract offers to Huijsen, but it wasn't enough to convince the Spaniard to U-turn on his dream move to the Bernabeu, with Maresca's side back on the hunt for exciting defensive options.
Jarrad Branthwaite's fresh stance on joining Chelsea
According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Chelsea have been handed a boost in pursuit of Branthwaite as an alternative to Huijsen, as BlueCo set their sights on the Englishman despite rumours he's set to command a seismic £80 million price tag.
jarrad-branthwaite-everton-liverpool
It is believed that Branthwaite could now ask to join Chelsea, amid "frustration" that Everton have placed such a large asking price on his head.
"Chelsea intend to push for him [Branthwaite] again and there is a possibility that they offer players to Everton in an attempt to get the fee down and make the deal more appealing on both sides," said Phillips.
"The other further info we have received from SPTC sources is that there’s a feeling now that Branthwaite could actually leave Everton this window for a Champions League club - which puts Chelsea in a strong position.
"We’ve also heard that he is a little frustrated, on Everton putting such a big valuation on his head. We had initially heard that Branthwaite would not actively push for a move. But it has now transpired that he is keen on Chelsea and could end up asking for the move. He loves Everton and wants to respect them, but he is keen to advance now to the next stage of his career and play UCL football. I don’t foresee him kicking up a fuss as such, but he may privately ask for the move."
His ball-playing ability and defensive intelligence would complement Chelsea's possession-based system under Maresca, offering both quality for now and excellent long-term potential.
However, there is little denying that Chelsea will definitely want to re-negotiate the mooted fee Everton are demanding, and Branthwaite's desire to join them could play a pivotal role in this.