Former Everton forward Andy van der Meijde has warned PSV Eindhoven against signing Jarrad Branthwaite on a permanent basis, believing he could struggle as much as Calvin Bassey initially did at Ajax.
The former winger has been speaking to Veronica Offside, relayed by Voetbal Zone, regarding the defender, who has been on loan with PSV since the summer.
He moved to the Netherlands on a temporary basis in search of regular playing time that wasn’t on offer at Everton, something he’s enjoyed under Ruud van Nistelrooy this season.
Indeed, he has impressed most who have watched him, with a series of impressive performances earning him rave reviews.
That’s something Everton have been resisting to date, setting a price for a transfer that PSV simply cannot afford at this moment in time.
Van de Meijde believes they would be better focusing their efforts elsewhere, criticising the youngster today.
“If you look at PSV’s team… if you want to compete for the prizes, you really need a different defence,” he said.
“Branthwaite suddenly starts playing as a left-winger at one point. He can play into Van Aanholt like that, but he loses the ball, and you get a corner from which a goal falls.
“Branthwaite is the Calvin Bassey of PSV, you have to get rid of him very quickly. I don’t understand anything about that (a permanent transfer).
“That boy should go and enjoy playing football in England, heading balls away, not crossing the halfway line and not interfering in the game. That just won’t do.”
