Tottenham Hotspur are keen on Jarrad Branthwaite but Everton are now expected to demand around £75million for their talented defender.
Tottenham fans will be expecting at least one new centre back to arrive during the January transfer window.
Recent suspension and injury for Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven exposed Tottenham’s lack of depth at the back.
Ange Postecoglou and co must bring in more defensive options but one target will surely prove to be too expensive now…
Everton want huge fee for Tottenham Hotspur target Jarrad Branthwaite
The Daily Mail reported in November that Tottenham were considering a move to sign Everton centre back Jarrad Branthwaite.
We can certainly see why Tottenham would be keen.
The 6ft 5in defender has impressed this season and offers a natural left-footed option at the back.
That is a similar kind of profile to Van de Ven – but Branthwaite will now cost much, much more than the Dutchman.
Tottenham struck a deal worth £34.5million rising to £43million for Van de Ven, landing him from Wolfsburg.
TEAMtalk now claim that Everton want around £75million for Branthwaite – around £30million more than Tottenham’s total deal for Van de Ven.
Everton’s thinking is that Chelsea paid a similar price to sign Wesley Fofana from Leicester City and Branthwaite should be worth just as much.
Hailed as ‘magnificent’ by Alan Shearer in October, Branthwaite clearly has huge potential at just 21.
We just can’t see a move to Tottenham happening at that price, especially as he would be competition for Van de Ven rather than a guaranteed starter,
Manchester United are also keen and we believe that Tottenham will be going for cheaper options come January.
English defenders who are out of contract at the end of the season – Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo – seem to make the most sense for Spurs.
Splashing enormous fees on players to build depth just doesn’t seem likely for Tottenham right now and we think Everton will manage to scare them off a move for Branthwaite.
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