Everton have been dealt a major setback in the club’s pursuit of Carlisle United defender Jarrad Branthwaite after seeing a bid rejected, according to Football Insider.
Toffees chiefs had been keen to steal a march on the wide range of interest emerging in the 6 ft 4 centre-back, who has been enjoying a stellar breakthrough campaign at his current fourth-tier outfit.
Branthwaite has featured in the starting line-up for each of his nine League Two appearances to date, though has not played a minute of football since Boxing Day after sustaining a thigh injury.
Recent speculation has suggested that we have bid £750,000, but while the report claimed Director of Football Marcel Brands was ‘closing in’ on landing Branthwaite’s signature, it has now been suggested that the offer was rejected.
Carlisle are believed to feel there was not enough cash upfront as part of the terms proposed, though have grown resigned to losing their emerging talent despite offering the 17-year-old a new contract to extend his deal beyond its current 2021 expiry date.
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A flock of Premier League and Scottish sides have scouted Branthwaite this season, including Arsenal, Leicester, Aston Villa, Rangers and Celtic.
Should Brands finalise an agreement with Carlisle for Branthwaite to move to Merseyside, it has been suggested the defender would link-up with David Unsworth’s Under 23s and begin his Toffees career in our academy fold.
In other Everton news, the club are said to be interested in a midfielder who has been dubbed a ‘disappointment’ for his performances in 2019/20.