www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
David Moyes gives perfect answer to Jarrad Branthwaite transfer question a I’mnd confirms Everton contract stance
Paul Wheelock
4 – 5 minutes
There were reports over the international break regarding the future of Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite
David Moyes has no doubt Jarrad Branthwaite can achieve his England ambitions at Everton
David Moyes has no doubt Jarrad Branthwaite can achieve his England ambitions at Everton
David Moyes has offered compelling evidence that Jarrad Branthwaite does not need to leave Everton to become an England regular. The rising star was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s first Three Lions squad.
Instead the German turned to 32-year-old Dan Burn, who set Newcastle United on their way to Carabao Cup final glory over Liverpool before the international break.
Tuchel also handed a place in his squad to Jarell Quansah, the fourth-choice Liverpool centre-back who has been restricted to just two Premier League starts this season.
READ MORE: David Moyes shares Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil injury latest in Everton fitness updateREAD MORE: Another key Finch Farm figure to leave Everton as departure explained
And in a development that surprised absolutely no Evertonian, a report from Sky Sports emerged after Branthwaite’s England snub suggesting the player was ready to consider his future at Everton, who in their words, were braced for more interest from “bigger clubs” after Manchester United saw a number of offers knocked back in the summer.
This is the same Manchester United who currently sit just three points above the Blues in the Premier League table despite having had hundreds of millions of pounds more to spend in recent seasons.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
Instead of joining up with the full England squad, who laboured to wins over Albaniaand Latvia, Branthwaite instead played for the Three Lions’ under-21s team, managed by Everton old boy Lee Carsley.
The 22-year-old, who is under contract until 2027, has now returned to Finch Farm and is expected to start in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Liverpool, who are one of the “bigger clubs” Sky Sports say are interested in his services.
But when asked whether Branthwaite will need to quit the Blues in order to become an England regular, Moyes pointed to three of his old boys and the best English goalkeeper of his generation to dispel that theory.
“(If he felt that) I would say to him – Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Joleon Lescott,” said the Everton boss. “That’s three who we brought in who went on to become internationals for England, which was a great achievement.
“And I think Jarrad is in the position that he can easily go on and do that. I think it’s a challenge for Jarrad to pick it up and say, ‘come on, let me show what I can do’.
“I think this club has developed a number of internationals over the years and we’ve got a very good goalkeeper playing for England as well.”
Moyes, of course, was referring to Jordan Pickford, whose 36th and 37th shutouts of his international career meant he moved past 1966 World Cup winning-hero Gordon Banks into outright fourth on the all-time England clean-sheet list.
The Everton No.1 is now also on 75 caps, level with David Seaman and Joe Hart, with only Peter Shilton (125) having earned more as a goalkeeper for the Three Lions.
Pickford has been one of the Blues’ most impressive performers again this season along with veteran midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who has spoken of his desire to remain with the club as the end of his contract draws near.
Moyes was full of praise for the 35-year-old but doubled down on the stance that new deals will not be negotiated until Premier League safety is secured.
“I’ve only been here a few months working with him but he’s been terrific in the games, he plays younger than what he is,” said Moyes of Gueye. “I understand how well he’s done.
“We won’t be making any decisions on contracts until we’re mathematically safe. We’ll have a look at all that when we get to that point.”
Everton are currently 17 points above the relegation points after a nine-game unbeaten league run.
