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There are moments when you remember Jarrad Branthwaite is only 21, when the centre-back, who has been calmness personified for much of the season, shows he is still learning the game at the highest level.
Given his lofty standards, they tend to be fleeting, coming as a surprise to team-mates and supporters alike. But in these anomalous hints of fallibility, he shows just how far he has come.
Aberrations from Branthwaite tend to be rare. A rash tackle here or an errant pass there. That, in itself, is unusual for a young player, but it makes them all the more notable when they do happen.
Take the first half of the final-day 2-1 defeat against Arsenal. Attempting to play the ball across his box, his pass was intercepted by Declan Rice, who then scuffed a promising opening straight at goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Minutes later, Branthwaite rushed out to confront Gabriel Martinelli, who skipped past him and brought another save from Pickford.
With Arsenal still in with a shout of the title, he, and Everton, wobbled in the face of sustained pressure — but the story of the season, for player and team, has been of resilience in the face of adversity. This was no different.
Branthwaite’s second half was a familiar story — dominance, recovery pace and astute positioning. Arsenal knocked on the door, regularly finding space down the sides of a narrow Everton back line but time and again, he was there, perfectly placed to clear the crosses and cutbacks. His positioning was like that of a seasoned defender.
Branthwaite will have plenty of suitors this summer (Warren Little/Getty Images)
The former Carlisle United man ended Sunday’s game with four blocks and seven clearances, the most important of which came at the back post late on to deny Martinelli a tap-in. On another occasion, he was beaten by Kai Havertz to a loose ball, affording the German what looked like a free run on goal, but showed his recovery pace and strength to rush back and shepherd to Pickford. It should have helped Everton to a hard-fought point but then came another late twist with Havertz’s controversial 89th-minute winner.
Genuinely left-sided, comfortable with both feet and capable of defending spaces or the tight confines of the penalty area, Branthwaite earned his first senior England call-up in March and is being tipped as an outside bet for Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad.
That skill set has won him admirers at Goodison Park, St George’s Park and elsewhere, with Manchester United believed to be among the suitors circling for the summer. There has been speculation about impending £55million ($70m) bids in the summer, but Everton value him higher than that. The club’s financial situation remains volatile, with 777 Partners given until the end of the month to complete what has become a protracted takeover saga, but Branthwaite is their most precious commodity.
It is only 12 months since Branthwaite was out on loan at PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands and was unsure what the future would hold when he returned to his parent club. He won the European Under-21 Championship with England last summer but was behind Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Levi Colwill in the pecking order. When the call came in March for the senior squad, he looked primed to make his international debut but did not feature.
Yet this season has still seen something of a breakthrough at Premier League level. Branthwaite finished in the Premier League’s top 10 for clearances, dribblers tackled and interceptions. With him, Everton averaged 1.3 points per game and 1.3 goals against; without him, it was one point per game and 1.7 goals against. His partnership with James Tarkowski has flourished, and only Liverpool, Arsenal and champions Manchester City have a better defensive record than Everton.
As the graphic below shows, Branthwaite comes out on top in most of his duels.
With injuries biting — Harry Maguire’s fitness is one concern — England could do worse than taking Branthwaite to Germany when their provisional squad is named on Tuesday. Some players may have more credit in the bank with Southgate — and he is a manager who likes to stick with his favourites — but few can match Branthwaite’s output this season and even fewer have his potential. His ability to play on the left is also in his favour.
Whether it is this summer or not, a step up of this kind only feels like a matter of time.
“He’s top class. You see him every week, he’s unbelievable,” said Everton captain Seamus Coleman. “The maturity has grown and it just shows how good it is to get out and play some football and grow your own wings.
“He came back (from PSV) a much more confident player and person, and he’s great to have around the place. Let’s not underestimate the influence of Tarkowski alongside him — they’ve worked extremely well together.
“He’s in the England picture and is modest, humble and hardworking. The future is bright for Jarrad if he keeps his feet on the ground, which he does. There have been games this season where I’ve been watching and thinking he’s incredible athletically and on the ball.
“I want to be fair and not speak too much about him, but you can’t hide talent like that for long.”
(Top photo: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5504550/2024/05/20/jarrad-branthwaite-everton-england/