Marcel Brands is open to offers for defenders Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite, as Everton seek a raft of sales to raise funds before Deadline Day, according to Sky Sports.
The Toffees must offload their deadwood to afford any last-ditch deals to strengthen Rafa Benitez’s first Goodison Park squad. But Director of Football Brands is yet to find suitors for James Rodriguez, Fabian Delph, Jonjoe Kenny or Cenk Tosun.
Everton are also willing to sell Moise Kean two years after paying Juventus an initial £29m, plus £8m in add-ons. Fiorentina showed an interest in the Italian to replace Dusan Vlahovic, per Grand Hotel Calciomercato. But have since stated the Serbian is staying in Tuscany.
Rodriguez has faced a fraught future at Goodison since Benitez replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm earlier this summer. The Liverpool Echo noted last month that Benitez does not plan on utilising the Colombian, or Englishmen Kenny and Delph.
Now, as Brands continues to chase funds, Everton appear to have added Branthwaite and Holgate to their transfer list. Branthwaite joined from Carlisle United as their only signing of the January 2020 window before breaking through under Ancelotti.
Holgate also established a key role in Ancelotti’s backline, but was often shifted to playing at right-back over Seamus Coleman. Benitez entrusted the 24-year-old with featuring in his natural centre-half role on the opening day as Everton beat Southampton 3-1.
However, Benitez axed the former Barnsley prospect to pair Yerry Mina and Michael Keane for Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Leeds. The Toffees boss also took Branthwaite off an hour into his first competitive outing of the term during Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win at Huddersfield.
Should Everton sell Holgate or Branthwaite?
Everton have five centre-halves on their books, including Branthwaite and Holgate, with Ben Godfrey the only yet to feature. The Toffees’ £20m arrival from Norwich City last year has missed the start of the season after having to isolate. He is now working to gain fitness.
As Brands has to raise funds to strengthen Benitez’s squad, Everton may feel they can live without Holgate and/or Branthwaite. The Toffees doing so would be an act of putting the here-and-now above the future in the 24 and 19-year-olds.
Branthwaite, particularly, without having had a real chance to show his potential at Everton under Benitez, like Ancelotti afforded. The Carlisle-born enforcer made five outings under the Italian before tearing his ankle ligaments. He then joined Blackburn on loan in January.
But Branthwaite made an impression on Ancelotti in the Everton first-team. The now-Real Madrid manager told EvertonTV: “He showed quality and personality and character. He is really calm with the ball, really comfortable, and really aggressive without the ball. He can be a fantastic player for us.”
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