‘Superstar’… Jamie Carragher in awe of Everton player who didn’t play a Premier League game last season

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Jarrad Branthwaite’s stock is rising after a string of superb performances at the heart of Everton’s defence.

Alongside James Tarkowski, the defender has helped Everton to eight clean sheets, the second-best in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, Branthwaite’s performances have drawn attention from elsewhere. According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal are all interested in the 21-year-old.

Homegrown players have emerged as hot property in recent years, and Branthwaite ticks many boxes for some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

It’s believed that the size of any offer will heavily depend on Everton’s league status.

For now, the defender remains firmly in the club’s plans. Unsurprisingly, he has been praised during the 2023/24 season, and Jamie Carragher hasn’t held back in his assessment.

Jamie Carragher in awe of Jarrad Branthwaite

Talking ahead of West Ham United’s match against Brentford, Carragher labelled the Everton youngster a superstar.

“This guy is a superstar,” he told Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

“For a centre-back to control that with his right foot, he is a two-footed player, the control with the right foot being a delicate touch with players around him and then to finish with the left just highlights again how strong Everton are from set pieces.”

Branthwaite spent the 2022/23 season on loan with PSV Eindhoven and has benefited immensely from his time in Holland.

There’s even a strong case for the defender to be part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany.

The 21-year-old is the perfect example of how the loan system can reap rewards for all concerned.

With interest mounting, Dyche spoke about the defender’s future towards the back end of 2023.

“A young player comes into the Premier League, does great and then all these stories start. It is a standard process, so I am not worried about that,” he said (The Manchester Evening News).

“He does continue to improve but I will remind you there is no gold dust from me or my staff. We do not want to get in the way of the improvement.

“He is coming along at a really nice rate. You can coach things into players they do not need. For me, it is just to keep on enjoying it.”