Kevin Thelwell makes Jarrad Branthwaite admission as Everton talks revealed

Kevin Thelwell has shared how close Jarrad Branthwaite came to leaving Everton this summer.

Manchester United saw several bids rejected for the centre-back throughout the summer transfer window with the side expected to return for Branthwaite at the end of the season [Manchester Evening News].

The 22-year-old is yet to feature this season but his long-term future at the Blues remains uncertain, Thelwell sat down with reporter Giulia Bould for BBC Sport [20 September] and revealed whether Branthwaite was close to a Goodison Park exit before the 30 August deadline.

He said: “Without question, Jarrad was at risk throughout the whole of the window, certainly before the end of the financial year because people thought we we’re having to do business to complete our PSR problem. Certainly afterwards when he was still there and people are in ‘buy mode’ a bit later on in the window.

“It was always our plan for Jarrad to stay that was always the conversation we had with him and the people that represented him but we also understood that if we did want Jarrad to stay, because of our financial position, we probably would have to give something else up in the marketplace and as everybody has seen, the player that went in this window was Amadou Onana as well as others.”

Kevin Thelwell made the right choice at Everton

If any Everton supporter had the choice, to sell one of Branthwaite or Amadou Onana, the Belgian would be the first out of the door every day of the week.

His absence from the side has been felt at the start of the season, the Blues have conceded 13 goals in four matches with their poor defensive record costing them twice against Bournemouth and Aston Villa after commanding a two-goal lead.

Everton supporters will be glad to see the back of Michael Keane in particular, the 31-year-old has lined up alongside James Tarkowksi to fill the void left by Branthwaite and has reminded all why he is so far down the pecking order when the squad is at its strongest.

Branthwaite stands a chance to feature against Leicester City on Saturday [21 September], the situation will be assessed after his outing for the U21s side [Sky Sports News].

While Onana has got off to a flyer to life at Villa Park and will play Champions League football this season, losing the 23-year-old to keep hold of Branthwaite is arguably the smartest decision the Everton hierarchy has made of late, given their perilous financial situation.

The feeling at Goodison Park is that Branthwaite’s return will correlate to a return of fortunes for the Blues and that is a price that no side can afford.

In other Everton news, Kevin Thelwell speaks out regarding the Sean Dyche sack talk at the Blues.

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