Tottenham Hotspur must beat Premier League rivals Manchester City and Manchester United in the race for Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite.
The Englishman is one of the hottest properties on the transfer market and is increasingly likely to leave Everton this summer.
Branthwaite has three years left on his contract with the Toffees, but Everton’s financial struggles and potential failure to preserve their Premier League status could also force them into a sale.
The Toffees won’t surrender their prized asset without a fight. They are expected to demand a whopping £80 million to let the 21-year-old leave Goodison Park.
Despite their valuation, Mail Sport reports that interested parties continue to circle, and Tottenham are firmly among several European giants keen to swipe Branthwaite this summer.
Spurs already possess quality in central defence, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven forming one of the most potent defensive combinations in the Premier League.
However, Van de Ven’s injury-prone nature means Romero had to line up alongside Emerson Royal or Ben Davies for most of the season until Radu Dragusin arrived in January.
While Dragusin is considered an immense talent, the Romanian is still finding his feet in the English top flight, but Branthwaite could be the perfect competitor for Van de Ven.
The left-footed centre-back offers immense potential and the perfect age profile for Ange Postecoglou to mould, although he has done well to establish himself as one of the finest prodigies in the country.
In addition to displaying a keen eye for goal, scoring twice for Everton, Branthwaite has won 64% of his aerial duels and an astonishing 71% of his ground battles in 25 league games.
Not many defenders in his age group can boast such remarkable statistics, especially in a debut Premier League campaign.
Branthwaite’s price tag might seem steep, but for a club like Tottenham with aspirations of becoming perennial title contenders, it’s an investment in the future.
Man City and Man United may be circling, but Tottenham have the clearest path to unlock Branthwaite’s potential and solidify their defensive future.
