Everton are ‘closing in’ on a deal to sign Carlisle United defender Jarrad Branthwaite, according to Sky Sports via the Daily Record.
The 17-year-old has been enjoying a breakthrough campaign at Brunton Park this season, having made his senior debut under Steven Pressley in September and gone on to amass 14 first-team appearances in all competitions.
Branthwaite has started each of his nine League Two appearances thus far, but is currently sidelined with a thigh injury that has kept the youngster from featuring in Carlisle’s last two fourth-tier fixtures.
He also scored his maiden senior goal against Morecombe in the EFL Trophy.
New Cumbrians boss Chris Beech – who was appointed to the position in November – stated toward the end of December that he had no knowledge of any potential January moves for Branthwaite, who Carlisle have offered a new contract too.
His current terms are due to expire in 2021, though the deal contains an option for Carlisle to extend.
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Branthwaite is believed to have been watched by several higher division sides since his breakthrough into the Cumbrians’ first-team, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Rangers, Celtic, Leicester, Liverpool and Chelsea all credited with an interest in the 6 ft 4 defender at some stage.
The Toffees seem to have won the race for the sought-after rising-star’s signature, though, as Sky Sports have claimed a £750,000 deal is set to be agreed, and that Branthwaite will be moving to Goodison Park.
Should the transfer go through, it is expected that the Carlisle-born centre-back would initially join David Unsworth’s Under 23s and begin his Blues career from there.
Branthwaite had recorded six successful tackles from nine attempts during his nine-straight League Two appearances before sustaining the thigh injury that has kept the 17-year-old on the sidelines.
He has also registered 17 interceptions, 42 clearances, eight blocks, won 30 of 58 aerial duels and found a teammate with 30 of his 84 long passes, per WhoScored data.
In other Everton news, fans have been reacting to a manager’s “ridiculous” comment on a 22-year-old Toffees man.