Club expect £15m player to stay with them, despite claims Liverpool are interested in him

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Everton are expecting reported Liverpool target Jarrad Branthwaite to stay at Goodison Park next season.

Branthwaite has just returned from a successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven, where he reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool. With the Reds – and other big sides – watching him, there was a feeling the centre-back could be sold if Everton were relegated.

But with the Toffees just about staying up, The Athletic report that manager Sean Dyche will ‘run the rule’ over Branthwaite during pre-season. After that, the expectation is that the 20-year-old will ‘fight to make his mark’ at the club.

This could be a blow to Liverpool, as well as the other clubs hopeful of signing him. However, it’s also claimed that it ‘remains to be seen’ how Everton would react to a bid coming in for Branthwaite.

With finances said to be ‘tight’ at Goodison, the suggestion is that a decent-sized offer could test Everton’s resolve here.

Branthwaite set to stay put

Had Everton gone down, it seems reasonable that they would have sold Branthwaite this summer. His stock is high after a really impressive spell at PSV and as The Athletic allude to, they need the money.

But with Premier League football secured for next season, and Yerry Mina and Conor Coady leaving the club, there could now be an opening for Branthwaite.

As a result, Liverpool would surely now need a bigger bid than the £15m the Blues turned down from PSV in January [The Daily Mail].

The rivalry between the clubs being the way it is, Everton would probably demand a bigger figure from the Reds than they would any other club.

Consequently, we now can’t see this move happening. Branthwaite looks to be a good prospect and could now make the grade at Everton and beyond. With them unwilling to sell though, especially to Liverpool, we should move on to other targets.

Had the former Carlisle defender been playing for any 99 per cent of other sides, maybe it could be on the cards. His good displays for PSV have marked him out as one of the best up-and-coming young centre-backs in Europe.

But, given the circumstances, Liverpool will probably have to leave this one.