Everton want to sign ‘absolutely magnificent’ defender who is vice-captain of his side

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There has been plenty of discussion over Jarrad Branthwaite’s Everton future after a standout season at Goodison Park.

The 21-year-old, alongside James Tarkowski, has emerged as part of a rock-solid backline that has amassed eight clean sheets.

Unsurprisingly, Branthwaite has already caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham interested.

One positive for Everton is that the defender doesn’t have a relegation clause in his contract, which will enable the Toffees to generate a large fee if the unthinkable happened at the end of the season.

Nevertheless, the board have reportedly kept tabs on potential replacements, with Sunderland’s Dan Ballard previously emerging as a target.

And now another Championship star has popped up on the Toffees’ radar.

Everton want Hull City’s Jacob Greaves

According to The Mirror, Hull City’s vice-captain Jacob Greaves has emerged as a potential replacement.

The 23-year-old has been an ever-present in Liam Rosenior’s side, who are pushing for a top-six finish.

It’s believed West Ham United were interested in the left-sided central defender during the January window.

With Hull City pushing for promotion, the report from The Mirror also suggests their league status will play a significant part in Greaves’ future.

The 23-year-old has received praise from his boss this season.

“I have to say first and foremost before we speak about his, his development and his growth is absolutely magnificent. I’m seeing it in front of my eyes. It’s one of the best parts of my job,” Rosenior told Hull Live.

Delving into the Championship can be an astute transfer strategy; the likes of Crystal Palace have excelled previously. Greaves is a younger who would provide plenty of years of service.

Furthermore, the transfer fee would be insignificant compared to the one Everton would receive for Branthwaite.

This move will depend mainly on how Hull City fair during the remainder of the season. If the Tigers are promoted, Greaves will likely attract further Premier League attention or commit his long-term future to the Humberside club.

As promising as this looks, plenty of pieces will need to fall into place to turn this into a realistic transfer.