Everton are currently having to deal with plenty of different choices at the moment, from fending off huge outside interest in their star men to convincing transfer targets that the club remains a promising prospect.
The latter is certainly proving a challenge following Dan Friedkin’s failed takeover, once again leaving the Toffees in the lurch.
Fortunately, with years of sustainability, Kevin Thelwell has earned some wiggle room in the market.
He is set to use that now with a key deal.
Everton offer new contract to star man
The latest comes from The Mirror, who suggests that Everton are preparing a ‘huge’ contract offer to tempt one of their prized assets to stay at the club for a little while longer.
Given Dominic Calvert-Lewin might leave the club this summer due to not receiving his demands, many might assume that the striker would be first in line for some kind of remuneration to convince him to stay at Goodison Park.
But instead, it seems Jarrad Branthwaite is instead waiting in the wings, having been denied outside interest in favour of a Merseyside stay.
Manchester United wanted Branthwaite, but after being priced out of a move went elsewhere.
The report reads: ‘Everton will offer Manchester United defensive target Jarrad Branthwaite a vastly improved contract to compensate for him missing out on an Old Trafford pay bonanza.
‘In the meantime, they have snapped up Lille central defender Leny Yoro for £52m and are closing in on Bayern Munich’s £40m-rated Matthijs de Ligt. That means Branthwaite looks set to start the new season still at Goodison Park on a salary of around £40,000-a-week.
‘But for not long because plans are in place for their outstanding defender to receive a new contract complete with a huge pay rise to try and ward off any other interest. The Wigton-born defender insists he hasn’t been phased by the transfer talk and is happy to remain a Toffee.’
Everton plan to reward the invaluable Jarrad Branthwaite
Whilst many might implore Everton to reinvest their spare cash elsewhere, particularly in Calvert-Lewin’s new deal given Branthwaite recently signed a new contract, this marks a smart move.
After all, at 27 years old, the English marksman is unlikely to see any real spike in his value now, having failed to convince Premier League clubs that he is of the requisite level both physically and technically.
Meanwhile, Branthwaite is only going to get better, and thus his value is only set to grow too.
Last season saw him shine for the Toffees, becoming one of the division’s best and more promising young defensive prospects.
He managed 1.9 tackles, 4.5 clearances and 5.4 ball recoveries per game alongside his 80% pass accuracy, as a rock-solid ball player at the back of Sean Dyche’s system.
His presence was simply too important to lose. A new contract sounds perfect for a player of his calibre, who will surely command an even greater fee in the near future.
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