Everton have made it clear that Jarrad Branthwaite is not for sale this summer, with David Moyes keen to rebuild his squad around the highly rated defender.
According to Sky Sports, the Toffees have now opened contract talks with Branthwaite as they look to tie down one of their brightest talents to a long-term deal.
Branthwaite is one of the hottest prospects on the market and has nearly every top-tier Premier League club on his trail.
Everton have done their best to resist a sale and are now ready to shut the door permanently. The 22-year-old still has two years left to run on his contract, but the Toffees are taking no chances.
Branthwaite has interest from Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United, but Everton are now moving quickly to strengthen their grip on a player who is considered a key part of their ambitions.
The England international has formed a solid partnership with countryman James Tarkowski at the heart of the Toffees defence and played a key role in providing Moyes with a soft landing on his Everton return.
After a successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven, Branthwaite signed a new deal with Everton in the opening months of the 2023/24 season.
That came after his breakthrough into the first team under Sean Dyche, even though the pair didn’t always see eye to eye. Since then, he has been an indispensable part of the Toffees backline.
Last season, he featured 30 times in the Premier League, helping Everton comfortably avoid relegation and finish 13th.
He helped Everton keep eight clean sheets and was a rock in 1v1 duels.
Branthwaite won 69% of his ground duels and 59% of his aerial battles. He averaged 1.2 tackles, 3.1 ball recoveries, and 6.3 clearances per 90 minutes.
The Englishman is brimming with talent and has a very high ceiling, so it’s no surprise he’s getting plenty of attention.
Everton have resisted a sale so far, but it’s only a matter of time before Branthwaite takes that next big leap in his career.
For now, Everton are in the driving seat. And at least the new deal will make sure they get a premium fee for their high-value asset when the time comes.