Everton face a pivotal summer transfer window and, whisper it quietly, the early signs are positive.
That might sound like a bold claim, and I am all too aware there is a long way to go and those involved in the playing side of the club are, for a variety of reasons, at the mercy of events outside their control.
But the opening week of the window – and just as importantly those before it – at least suggest a strategy in which those in charge are doing everything they can to, to coin one of Sean Dyche’s most common phrases, control the controllables.
But the manner of the rejection made clear that Everton would not be bullied over one of the club’s most prized assets. Cash is king and the Blues do need it – to comply with the Premier League’s spending rules ahead of the June 30 accounting deadline, and to help operations continue until the uncertainty at the top of the club is resolved.
Yet Everton remain in a strong position with Branthwaite. The noises coming out of Old Trafford may suggest United are willing to walk away should the Blues not be willing to compromise, however, they need a centre-back and they are not flush with options.
Favoured alternative Jean-Clair Todibo is no longer an option due to UEFA rules over player trading between clubs under the same ownership.
Todibo, who plays for Nice, is not a back-up for Branthwaite because the French club is also part of United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS stable and both sides are set for Europa League action next term. Meanwhile, United are – like so many others – reliant on Real Madrid deciding against a move for Lille’s Leny Yoro for them to have a chance.
There remains a feeling at Old Trafford that United missed out when John Stones moved from Goodison to Manchester City and, in doing so, went on to become one of English football’s most decorated centre-backs. If the Red Devils really are intent on putting an end to the post-Sir Alex Ferguson chaos and build team for the future then Branthwaite is a standout option for the first signing of the new era.
If that is to happen, however, Everton are right to push for a better value for a player they would happily see play a big role in Royal Blue next season.
The Arsenal interest in Amadou Onana is helpful to Everton’s position. The contact made on Friday was exploratory as club chiefs weigh up their own summer transfer strategy, but other clubs are interested as well.
Onana, who started for Belgium in the nation’s first game of the Euros, has hinted at a desire, at some stage, to test himself at a higher level and a move this summer seems a distinct possibility.
The Blues’ starting point for any negotiations is an offer of at least £50m and should interest in Onana develop into something concrete then a move would further strengthen the club’s stance on Branthwaite.
It would also help Everton assess bids for other players, too. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness, and then his late season form, has led the striker to drop onto the radar of a host of teams that are well aware he will enter the final 12 months of his contract this summer should he not sign the new deal on the table. This is a situation the Blues need to resolve and by offering the deal, they have at least kickstarted a process through which they can gauge what their next move should be.
Calvert-Lewin, like Jordan Pickford and Branthwaite, is a player whose quality Everton would struggle to replace under the club’s current budget restraints – though if they end up in a scenario where they need to, then the more time and money at their disposal, the better.
Director of football Kevin Thelwell has no choice but to be savvy this summer, the first he has had the opportunity to plan for without the threat of relegation existing until the final week of the season. Again, there are some positive signs on this front.
Triggering the extension clause in the contract of Idrissa Gueye and offering new deals to Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman made perfect sense. All three are at the later stages of their careers but by tying them down, the club protected a core of the squad from an early stage.
