Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
(Credit: Imago)
Parth Jhaveri
Sat 22 March 2025 21:10, UK
Everton may lose star defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the summer as several clubs are interested in the English defender, but a replacement may already be lined up.
Branthwaite has been Everton’s best defender by a mile in the last couple of seasons and has caught the eye of several clubs across England and Europe.
Last summer, Manchester United attempted to sign Branthwaite but the former Carlisle man remained with the Toffees. This year, the Red Devils are ready to go all out for the centre-back, posing a risk for Everton to lose their main man.
To prepare for a potential Branthwaite exit, the Merseysiders are looking for a centre-back in the market and one of the targets could be ready to leave their current club in the summer.
Branthwaite could leave Everton (Credit: Imago)
Everton’s Branthwaite replacement
Everton are keeping an eye on Genoa defender Koni De Winter as a potential Branthwaite replacement. The 22-year-old has impressed at Genoa this season, making 17 Serie A appearances.
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Although Everton would like to keep Branthwaite beyond this summer and will do everything in their power, it is not entirely in their hands. Hence, they do need to prepare a plan for life after Branthwaite.
De Winter is viewed as an ideal replacement because of their similar build to Branthwaite and his ability to spray passes from the defence. Genoa will slap a price tag of £21million on the defender, which the Toffees could easily afford if Branthwaite is sold.
Everton contracts expiring at the end of 2024-25
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Seamus Coleman
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Idrissa Gueye
Michael Keane
Ashley Young
Joao Virginia
Asmir Begovic
Everton have plenty of players out of contract this summer
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano provided an exciting update on De Winter via his X account on Saturday (22 March).
According to the transfer specialist, the Belgian centre-back is expected to leave Genoa this summer as he has a lot of interest from Premier League and Serie A clubs.
That can be considered a major boost for Everton if they have indeed places De Winter high up on their list of priorities.
🚨🇧🇪 Koni De Winter could leave Genoa in the summer as Premier League and Serie A clubs have started initial approaches.
22 year old centre back, attracting strong interest with potential move expected to happen. pic.twitter.com/QAEkeYJkvL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 22, 2025
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Changes in defence for Everton
Three Everton defenders are out of contract at the end of the season – Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane and Ashley Young.
Coleman has earned the right to decide his own future, whereas there are no indications of a new contract for Young and Keane.
If Branthwaite also departs, as many as four Everton defenders could leave, which could be detrimental to the squad’s depth. The Toffees will then have to go in the market and sign centre-backs as well as full-backs.
It is time to move on from Keane and instead invest in another young centre-back who can learn from the likes of James Tarkowski and develop his game. If De Winter arrives at the club, he will have a reliable mentor in Tarkowski.
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