Tottenham Hotspur may be keen to sign Everton’s young defender Jarrad Branthwaite, but the Toffees are likely to spurn any advances from the North London club in January.
With injuries to Micky van de Ven and Eric Dier, Tottenham are worryingly low on first team centre-backs right now.
Recently, Ange Postecoglou has utilised both Ben Davies and Emerson Royal at centre-half, though the return of Cristian Romero from suspension has been a much-needed boost for the injury-ravaged side.
Still, the frailties of last season are creeping in again of late, and Spurs are expected to make signing a new centre-half a top priority in the January transfer window.
Multiple names have been linked to the Lilywhites recently, with targets the club passed on in the summer resurfacing, and new names coming to the fore.
Can Spurs prise Branthwaite away from Everton?
One of those newer names is Jarrad Branthwaite. The 21-year-old has emerged as a top talent this season, and has been impressive for Everton despite their off-field troubles.
Branthwaite was recently touted as a potential target for Spurs (Daily Mail), but the latest information from Football Insider suggests they will have a hard time prising him away from Everton.
It is said Everton “are prepared to reject” any approach from Tottenham in January. The player is thought to be a “top target” for Spurs, but his current club insist he is “not for sale.”
Branthwaite is now regarded as a “key player” by Everton. He is thought to be aware of Tottenham’s “concrete” interest in him, but the Merseyside club are “confident” they can fend clubs off in January.
Spurs Web Opinion
This is another player I just cannot see moving on in January, and is the kind of signing that would be far more likely come the summer. That said, with Everton’s financial issues, we could offer them a lifeline with a decent offer in January.