Everton have endured a deathly quiet January transfer window thus far.
The Toffees have seen rumours few and far between, and if anything it has been a month of fighting off interest for their own assets rather than bringing in any themselves.
Sean Dyche, however, will be satisfied to just keep ahold of his squad, which should be more than good enough to avoid the drop ahead of the likes of Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United.
Both Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite, as the duo most likely to make that big-money exit, are unlikely to be sold in the remaining six days of this window.
And whilst that is likely enough for Evertonians, who had been warned of such a barren window by Kevin Thelwell, there’s still plenty going on behind the scenes at Goodison Park, including contract talks, future transfer targets and financial worries.
Everton News has spoken exclusively to HITC Football’s Graeme Bailey to get the latest on Branthwaite’s future, a potential new contract for Idrissa Gana Gueye as well as Everton’s interest in Jota.
Ben Godfrey and Arnaut Danjuma could make an Everton exit
We first asked about outgoings, and rather than focusing on the big names we sought to query whether there are any quieter deals that could be snuck in at the end of the window with minimal fuss.
Naturally, both Ben Godfrey and Arnaut Danjuma cropped up: ‘Yeah that is the issue, it’s not can they afford them it’s can they get them on the spreadsheet. That’s the thing with all these Premier League clubs now.
‘Getting players out, Ben Godfrey is one, I think there’s players all over the squad they’re considering, Gomes maybe with Saudi, Danjuma’s an interesting one. He’s agreed terms to move to Lyon. Everton have got to let him out.’
Jota remains of interest to Everton
With that well-documented Danjuma news, we had to know whether any contingency plans were in place, should his exit be sanctioned.
‘I’m told Jota is on their list,’ Bailey noted. ‘It isn’t a surprise because there is quite a bit of interest in him depending on what Al-Attihad are asking for.
‘There’s a few wingers out there. I know they’ve had a look at Jack Clarke, David Brooks is another I think Sean Dyche appreciates, so there’s a few options out there. They don’t want to leave themselves short-handed.’
Idrissa Gueye to sign a new contract?
Given rumours have emerged over a transfer ban as another potential sanction for their PSR indiscretions, expiring contracts could be vital.
Bailey would note: ‘Idrissa Gueye, he’s done well at Everton, I think there’s a decent chance he might stay.
‘Andre Gomes, I don’t see him staying particularly which is a huge shame. I love Andre Gomes but that injury was so horrible. He was one of my favourite players, when him and Allan were playing together under Ancelotti, it was some of the best football I’ve seen Everton play ever really.
‘Gomes is on big money, we know that, last year of his contract. I see him going back abroad.
‘Coleman? I don’t see why not if he’s ready and willing. He’s very good for these young players coming through. And Sean Dyche suits Coleman because the full-backs don’t particularly overlap, they’re not wing-backs, so I don’t see why not.
‘I haven’t heard him thinking about retirement just yet, he likes his lieutenants around him, Sean Dyche.’
Jack Harrison to make it permanent in the summer?
As with contracts expiring, so too are loans. Jack Harrison is one Dyche would surely love to keep around.
‘It’s obviously massively dependent on if Everton stay in the Premier League. Let’s take it as a given, and it depends if Leeds come up, but I think that’s one where Leeds and Everton won’t know until the end of the summer
‘I think Harrison is enjoying himself, we know he’s a Sean Dyche type of player.’
Where Jarrad Branthwaite might end up
Naturally, the biggest intrigue was drawn from Everton’s £75m-rated prized defender. We asked if, and to whom, might the 21-year-old move.
‘Branthwaite is a player who’s a wonderful talent, classed as a homegrown product, he’s like what happened with Phil Jones at Blackburn. Everyone knows he’s a brilliant player, everyone knows he’s going to join a bigger club, but which club is he going to join?
‘He’s not going to leave this January, I think he’s too important for them. There’s something special about him, credit to Everton for the way they’ve brought him on. But I think he’ll be going in the summer.
‘Branthwaite, he could go anywhere. He could go Real Madrid, my hunch for Branthwaite is he’ll end up at Manchester United I think.’
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