PSV Eindhoven coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is urging the Eredivisie challengers to ‘sign Jarrad Branthwaite very quickly’ amid rising interest in the Everton and Premier League loanee, speaking to Voetbal International.
This month alone, Manchester United, AS Roma and even Everton’s cross city rivals Liverpool have all been linked with the England U20 international.
PSV, then, may be rueing their failure to sign Branthwaite on a permanent deal in January. Though that was not for a lack of trying. PSV, the Daily Mail say, had a £15 million bid rejected by Everton. With the Toffees holding out for more, it remains to be seen if a side hit hard by financial concerns can raise their offer significantly enough.
Van Nistelrooy is not giving up hope of retaining Branthwaite for at least another season, however; insisting that the former Carlisle starlet would benefit from staying at a club willing to offer him regular first-team football.
Will PSV sign Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton?
“I told the previous technical director to sign Jarrad very quickly. And I say it now to the current one!” the Manchester United legend quips.
“Jarrad has really fought his way into the team. He got his chance and took it. I am satisfied. I see Jarrad as a key player, and that’s how we see him internally.
“We have a lot of young talent, including (Johan) Bakayoko, (Xavi) Simons, Branthwaite and (Ismael) Saibari. Those are guys for the future. It’s true that we may have competition in our attempts to keep Jarrad longer. Well, let him develop first.
“What is extremely important is that he is having a great time at PSV. That is a basic condition if we want to have a chance at all.”
Branthwaite is adding another string to his bow at the Phillips Stadium, scoring three goals in PSV’s last two games. One of those came during the 6-0 thrashing of Groningen over the weekend.
“For now, it is only a loan. There is no purchase option in my contract,” Branthwaite himself points out.
“It is a nice compliment that PSV wants to keep me. I am really enjoying myself here, so I would definitely consider a longer stay at PSV. We’ll see if it works out. My contract in Everton runs until 2025. That’s still a long time and they will undoubtedly have a plan with me.”
Branthwaite also speaks openly about his interest in following in Noni Madueke’s footsteps. The winger left Tottenham Hotspur for a first-team role at PSV. And, after five years in the Netherlands, he returned to the Premier League following a £29 million bid from Chelsea during the January transfer window.
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