Everton ‘would like to sell’ player despite strong season – Asking price set, European interest

Everton ‘would like to sell’ defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, despite his impressive performances on loan at PSV Eindhoven this season.

That’s according to Eindhovens Dagblad, who say the Dutch sides’ efforts to sign the defender permanently are still falling short.

Branthwaite has been on loan with PSV since the summer, when he was shipped out of Goodison Park on a temporary basis to get regular playing time and continue his development.

He’s managed both under Ruud van Nistelrooy, establishing himself as a key first-team player and putting in a series of impressive performances across the campaign.

ED explain that they are keen to keep him in the summer, but Everton are currently asking for at least €12m according to sources close to the situation. PSV think that is ‘too much money’ and are therefore looking at alternatives.

Another loan deal would be only option for them to get Branthwaite again but that ‘no longer seems plausible’ as Everton ‘would like to sell’ at the end of the season and know there is a lot of interest from foreign clubs in the player.

Branthwaite himself would presumably like to stay as well as he ‘insisted’ on finishing the season with them when he could have left in the January transfer window.

He has a good relationship with PSV general manager Marcel Brands, who brought him to Everton when he was director of football at Goodison Park.

The impression ED give is that whatever he decides might play its part, but for now at least, it remains unlikely that he’ll be returning to PSV at the end of the season.