James Tarkowski names the player he’s really hoping Everton don’t sell this summer

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Everton’s summer has been an enjoyable one thus far, but there has remained an underlying fear throughout.

After all, even with the sale of Amadou Onana, it has constantly felt like other star men were threatening to follow suit and force through a move of their own in order to further their careers.

Jarrad Branthwaite, Jordan Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and more have been linked with exits, but at present, none have departed.

And now, James Tarkowski has even taken to the press to beg one of these to stick around for a little while longer.

James Tarkowski begs Everton player to stay at the club

Speaking to reporters after Everton’s 1-1 draw with AS Roma, the bruising defender did not hold back when asked about the future of one of his teammates.

However, that hardly narrows it down, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract dispute contrasting Jarrad Braithwaite’s uncertain future in the face of continued Manchester United interest.

Referencing the latter though, given his close-knit relationship with his young centre-back partner, he gave an impassioned plea for why the 22-year-old should not be so quick to depart Goodison Park.

Tarkowski claimed: ‘I’m not privy to all of the conversations going on about Jarrad. I think, for me, I spent a season playing with him and he was outstanding. He is still young and he’s still going to improve but we all know the qualities he’s got as a player.

‘So personally, I hope he stays here and I get to spend some time with him on the pitch again this year. I know he is dealing with a couple of issues right now, but hopefully he will be back involved with the lads soon and back on the pitch because he was such an important player last year.’

Jarrad Braithwaite has so much still to learn from James Tarkowski

There are numerous reasons why Branthwaite should not be so quick to exit Everton, with so many examples of players who have rushed to depart in the past and failed to fulfil their potential.

However, the fact that he is currently a Premier League mainstay beside a stalwart of the division in Tarkowski should be chief among them, as he is claiming invaluable experience every time he takes to the field with such a veteran.

Although Branthwaite’s physical attributes may be stellar, standing at 6 foot 5 and boasting a blistering turn of pace, he can be culpable for a few errors in positioning or in possession.

Even if these are few and far between, sitting beside the 31-year-old offers crucial protection and cover as Tarkowski shows him how it is done even without speed and height.

One more year of learning from the former Burnley man would do his development no harm, and potentially even earn him a bigger, more lucrative move away next summer to a club with real prospects at the elite level.