Everton and Jarrad Branthwaite close to agreement over new contract

New York Times

21 hours ago

Everton and defender Jarrad Branthwaite are close to an agreement over a new contract.
Manchester United saw £35million and £45m plus add-ons offers for the England international rejected last summer and he has continued to stay on the radar of top clubs.
The 23-year-old's current terms run until 2027 with the club holding the option of a further year but, while nothing is yet signed, discussions have progressed well with an agreement over a fresh long-term deal now seen as close.
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Where there was an acceptance last summer they would have to sell if the right offer came in, The Athletic reported earlier this month that the club, under new owners The Friedkin Group, had informed interested suitors 12 months on that he was not for sale.
David Moyes has been steadfast in his commitment to keeping Branthwaite on Merseyside and in April insisted the club 'hold all the cards' in the situation.
'Good players will always be linked with moves away, especially good young players,' the Everton manager said. 'But you have to remember Jarrad's got a three-year contract left, he's got two years and a year's option so if anything Everton hold all the cards regarding that player.
'But I have to also say over the journey I've had over many years at Everton we've had to sell different players from Wayne Rooney to Mikel Arteta to Joleon Lescott.
'Apart from being a football manager, especially at certain clubs you have to sell on the journey to try and build as well. But I wouldn't think that Jarrad one of the players I would want to lose, that's for sure.'
Branthwaite has made 86 appearances for the club since joining from Carlisle United in January 2020, including 33 in all competitions this past season.
He made his senior England debut last summer before missing out on selection for the final 26-man squad for Euro 2024. That appearance, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, is his sole outing to date.
Everton have been well protected when it comes to Branthwaite. He has two years remaining on his contract, plus a club option for a third. But his situation is atypical.
He signed his last deal in the autumn of 2023, just as he was cementing a regular first-team berth. The Carlisle United academy graduate is a key player now, but not one of Everton's top earners. In that sense, there is a disconnect.
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The club have made it clear of their desire not only to retain his services this summer, but by retaining him on new terms.
This has become a key issue for new owners The Friedkin Group, manager David Moyes and CEO Angus Kinnear.
It is notable, for example, that they have taken steps to tie Branthwaite down at a time when others, such as vice-captain James Tarkowski, midfielder James Garner and left-back Vitalii Mykolenko are soon to go into the final 12 months of their deals. They want to build around Branthwaite and would see his retention in the face of interest as a show of intent.
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