Despite many hoping it would not, already it feels like Everton’s summer is set to be dominated by questions about the future of Jarrad Branthwaite.
After all, it is hard not to worry about his future with the interest gathering.
The Toffees have remained firm thus far on their stance regarding the 21-year-old, despite Manchester United bidding for Branthwaite, and the pitiful nature of that initial £35m proposition has drawn scrutiny.
It outlines everything that is wrong with PSR, and it is good to see that Everton’s hierarchy feel similarly on the matter.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite transfer stance revealed
The latest comes courtesy of The Athletic, who actually reveal the stance that Everton’s board are taking on this important decision.
Despite well-documented financial issues plaguing the club, it seems that they too are buying into the same mindset that many Evertonians are: that the club cannot allow themselves to be bullied despite a PSR deadline looming.
That is all mentioned in the report, which reads: ‘Everton consider any prospective sale of the 21-year-old to be in the same bracket as those of Maguire, Josko Gvardiol and Wesley Fofana, all of whom joined their current clubs for fees above £75million.
United’s opening offer, a £43m package in total, is low in that context and unsurprisingly viewed as unacceptable by the Goodison Park hierarchy.
‘Everton’s financial concerns and need to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR) could ultimately force a sale, but the noises coming out of Goodison have always cautioned against a cut-price deal.’
Everton could sell Amadou Onana to keep Jarrad Branthwaite
If the financial fears do prove to be true, and a major sale is required within the next few weeks to avoid further PSR backlash, then perhaps Sean Dyche might lobby to offload a different prized asset.
After all, Amadou Onana is commanding lots of transfer interest, and at the back end of the last Premier League campaign, he did see his first-team spot usurped by a 34-year-old Idrissa Gana Gueye.
The vast skillset of the Belgian international is pretty well known already, however it is also widely recognised that Everton’s system does not favour the progressive enforcer.
His ability to break up the play is admirable, but with a lack of movement in front of him, Onana is often left dawdling in possession and unable to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Few would argue against the suggestion that he would thrive for a better side, and perhaps he could seek to fulfil that potential, having given a good account of himself in the Premier League already, and leave for a large sum to help strengthen Everton’s bargaining position regarding Branthwaite.
