Jarrad Branthwaite: Next Club Betting Odds
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Jarrad Branthwaite is a man in demand after the young defender enjoyed a stellar 2023-24 campaign with Everton.
The Cumbrian starlet, 22, narrowly missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad this summer but is still being courted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Unsurprisingly, the Toffees hope to retain their talisman for a little while longer — but how realistic is that? We take a look at the betting odds around Branthwaite's immediate future.
Jarrad Branthwaite's next club odds
To stay at Everton this summer (2/5, bet365)
After selling influential midfielder Amadou Onana to Aston Villa for £50m, all the talk was that Everton no longer need to cash in on Branthwaite this summer.
That is reflected in the betting market, with Bet365 making him a 2/5 (1.40) chance to stay put on Merseyside for at least another season. However, the matter looks far from settled.
With the Toffees completing a £17 million swoop for Lyon's Irish centre-back Jake O'Brien this week, contingency plans appear to be being made for Branthwaite's potential exit — even if Sean Dyche dismissed those claims.
Asked if his star defender could now exit this summer, Dyche insisted: "It’s nothing to do with that. It’s just to do with trying to model the club with the finances available. Obviously we’re stretched at the moment with depth."
Despite those comments, Everton's ongoing fiscal uncertainty off the field suggests any significant bid for the Three Lions international would have to be carefully considered.
Above: Branthwaite enjoyed a breakout season in Everton colours during 2023/24. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)
To join Manchester United this summer (11/4, bet365)
Manchester United's pursuit of Branthwaite has been well documented but the Red Devils were supposedly put off by Everton's £70 million asking price.
With no resolution struck, the Old Trafford outfit moved for Leny Yoro instead. The 18-year-old Frenchman joined from Lille in an initial £52 million deal and that seemed to close the door on any move for Branthwaite — for now, at least.
But things may have changed after Yoro limped out of his second match for his new club, before being pictured wearing a protective boot.
The full extent of that injury has not yet been confirmed but if it does turn out to be a serious knock, it could prompt Erik ten Hag and his recruitment side into action.
There is also a chance that United are simply refusing to pay Everton's asking price in the hope of seeing it drop significantly later in the window.
If another club enters the race, don't be surprised to see the Red Devils jump back into the thick of things.
To join Liverpool this summer (11/1, Betfair)
Like his old Toffees teammate Anthony Gordon, Branthwaite has also speculatively been linked with the prohibited jump across the Merseyside divide to join Everton's arch rivals Liverpool.
Such a move may seem fanciful, though it is not completely far-fetched. With influential captain Virgil van Dijk now 33, the Reds will surely have to strengthen the centre of their backline in the next two years.
Furthermore, their new boss Arne Slot will be well aware of Branthwaite's talents, having watched from afar as he excelled in the Eredivisie on loan at PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23.
There was talk at the back-end of last season that Reds staff consider the left-footed ace as a perfect long-term partner for Jarell Quansah, who is a teammate of Branthwaite at England youth level.
And club legend Jamie Carragher has made no secret of his admiration for the Blues ace.
After Southgate left Branthwaite out of his final Euros squad this summer, Carragher tweeted: "Lots of bigger names than Jarrad Branthwaite have missed out on the England squad, but he should’ve been picked to go to Euro 2024. He’s England’s present & future."
Lots of bigger names than Jarrad Branthwaite have missed out on the @England squad, but he should’ve been picked to go to @EURO2024 he’s England’s present & future.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 6, 2024
To join Real Madrid this summer (20/1, bet365)
A pub-quiz level piece of trivia, here. Who was the first signing of Carlo Ancelotti's spell as Everton boss? Okay, you probably guessed it.
Yes, the legendary Italian arrived at Goodison Park on December 21, 2019 and just three weeks later, Branthwaite completed a £1million switch to the Toffees from his boyhood club Carlisle United.
Clearly, Ancelotti was not the driving force behind that acquisition but he certainly had no hesitation in throwing the then-teenager into the thick of Premier League life amid an injury crisis in the 2020-21 campaign.
Though injury limited his opportunities, the veteran boss hailed Branthwaite as a "fantastic player" and reports earlier this year said Ancelotti had seen enough in his development to want him at his current club — the mighty Real Madrid.
Given Los Blancos' summer has surrounded the long-awaited capture of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, perhaps any move for a young, expensive centre-back will have to wait a window or two.
Should Branthwaite have another eye-catching Premier League season with Everton, though, this move could have legs.
To join Tottenham this summer (25/1, bet365)
Ange Postecoglou's first season with Tottenham was one of extreme peaks and troughs but the big Aussie certainly had Spurs playing his own unique brand of football.
His high-line defending was at times described as "suicidal" by leading pundits but with the 58-year-old unlikely to abandon those principles, providing him with the right personnel is a must for the North London outfit's hierarchy.
Arguably the most important area for a Postecoglou side to be well-equipped is at centre-back. His options must be agile, quick and able to play on the front foot — all traits Branthwaite possesses.
It has been unsurprising, then, to see the youngster strongly linked. However, the £70million price tag is unquestionably a stumbling block. Spurs would probably need that fee to come down by at least £20million.
There is also a case for the North London outfit not offering the youngster the guarantee of Champions League football that he could arguably source elsewhere.
To join Manchester City this summer (25/1, Sky Bet)
The last club of note in this list is Manchester City, even if the English champions have never been all that strongly linked with Branthwaite.
All things considered, this transfer that makes sense. Pep Guardiola likes ball-playing defenders. City have a war chest in terms of transfer budget. Branthwaite's age means he could realistically marshall their backline for a decade.
Yet with John Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol all under contract at the Etihad, their need for a world-class centre-back is not immediately obvious.
That doesn't mean this move couldn't happen, though. City are a standout club in terms of getting their transfer business done in ruthlessly efficient fashion. There are no leaks, no rumours. Just announcements of completed deals.
While they will not pay world record fees or offer the biggest wages in Europe, the allure of playing for such a successful club and highly-rated tactician is so often a decision-maker for young stars pondering their next step.
If City make their move for Branthwaite, expect it to be executed quickly and conclusively.
