PSV Eindhoven are considering a move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The centre-back, who turned 20 last month, was left back home when Frank Lampard’s 32-man squad flew out to the USA on Monday, with the official reason for his absence being a precaution due to sickness.
However, having already bolstered his numbers at the back with the acquisition of James Tarkowski, new director of football Kevin Thelwell could choose to send the player out on loan next season to gain more first team experience after he returned to Goodison Park last term to play eight times after making 10 appearances on loan at Championship club Blackburn Rovers in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.
Branthwaite memorably scored his first goal for Everton when he equalised against Chelsea to earn a depleted side a point at Stamford Bridge last December on what was his first outing of the season. but he was sent off for a professional foul on his last Goodison outing of the campaign just 18 minutes into the 3-2 defeat to Brentford, as his side spurned the chance to secure their top flight status. The Toffees were then left sweating until the following Thursday when they completed a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at home to Crystal Palace.
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The ECHO understands that PSV’s interest in Branthwaite is genuine but they are still weighing up their options as they seek to secure their first Eredivisie title since director of football Marcel Brands left for Everton in 2018. The 60-year-old, who left the Blues last December less than eight months after penning a new three-year deal, has returned to PSV as chief executive and is a known admirer of the 6ft 5in youngster having been instrumental in bringing him to Goodison in January 2020 after just nine League Two appearances for his home city club Carlisle United.
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