Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite’s decision to join PSV Eindhoven on loan last summer has paid off as he’s been a regular for them this season.
Operating in the heart of defence, he’s managed four goals from 20 matches in all competitions for the Dutch club.
PSV don’t retain an option to make the 20-year-old’s stay permanent but have a firm desire to retain him beyond his loan spell.
They made efforts to buy him in January but the proposal reportedly didn’t please the Merseyside club. The England U20 international has a contract at Everton until 2025.
Last week, Branthwaite admitted he would “definitely consider” extending his stay at the Eredivisie side.
“I told the previous technical director [John de Jong] that he must sign Jarrad very quickly and I say it now to the current [Marcel Brands], but also to the future [director Earnest Stewart]. To all, haha,” he told Voetbal International, relayed by PSVFans.nl.
The coach is aware that PSV will face competition from other clubs in their efforts to hold on to Branthwaite.
“I do see Jarrad as a key player and that’s how we see him internally. We have a lot of young talent with Bakayoko, Simons, Branthwaite and Saibari, among others. Those are guys for the future,” Van Nistelrooy explained.
“It’s true that we can get competition for Jarrad. Well, let him develop well first. What is extremely important is that he enjoys himself at PSV and within this team. That is a basic condition if we want to have a chance at all.”
