Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite went out on loan to PSV Eindhoven last summer and Marcel Brands was instrumental in completing this operation.
The current PSV chief, who was at the Merseyside club between May 2018 and December 2021, signed the defender for the Toffees in 2020.
Brands convinced the Everton owned player to join the Eredivisie side on loan, something the 20-year-old said himself during an interview with NOS.
The Eredivisie side’s chief sent messages to the centre-back through his agent, before he arrived at PSV.
“That was a big step [moving to Everton] and from there I built up a good relationship with him. After I came to PSV, that bond has only grown. As a young player, it gives you a lot of confidence that someone like that believes in you,” he said.
“He sent that he wanted me here. PSV are a huge club and were already playing in the Champions League and Europa League. I find it difficult to say whether I would have played here without Brands. In any case, he has had a lot of influence on my arrival.”
The England U20 international has impressed at PSV, so much so that Ruud van Nistelrooy has publicly asked the club to retain him beyond this season. The manager’s comment was made after the player admitted he could consider extending his stay in Eindhoven.
Branthwaite, who has a deal at Everton until 2025, has again insisted he could stay at the Dutch club next season.
“I am open to something in Eindhoven. But I am under contract with Everton, which is also a fantastic club. I will go back there after this season and we will see what my decision will be,” Branthwaite explained.
On his chat with Sean Dyche, Branthwaite said: “That was just after he signed with the club. He especially wanted to introduce himself and asked me how I am doing and how things are here at PSV. It was a personal conversation, which I really appreciate.”
It’ll be interesting to see how this case develops in the summer.
