Everton will likely look to the upcoming transfer window to strengthen their squad ahead of the second half of the Premier League season after another disappointing start to the campaign.
The Toffees are currently 17th in the league table teetering on the edge of the relegation zone just one point clear of the bottom three, a position the team and the manager are both all too familiar with.
Frank Lampard will be desperate to improve upon the performances and get his side in a much more comfortable position in the Premier League as another difficult relegation scrap could result in much more devastating circumstances than Everton dealt with last season.
Indeed, the powers at Goodison Park did sanction eight new signings in the summer but will still likely remain cautious in their approach to transfer business when the market reopens next month.
As a result, Lampard could add further depth all over the pitch and save the club millions during the transfer window by looking at the players he already has at his disposal in either the youth academy or out on loan, with one player, in particular, thriving whilst earning first-team football.
Jarrad Branthwaite has been proving his worth over the last few months during his loan spell with PSV Eindhoven and had become an integral member of the Dutch club’s squad ahead of the World Cup break.
Over eight Eredivisie appearances, the 20-year-old centre-back has scored one goal and tallied up a 90% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 45.3 touches, 2.9 clearances and 2.4 duels won per game.
The former Everton U21 defender has risen through the ranks in the youth set-up on Merseyside since joining the club from Carlisle United back in 2020 and his former Carlisle manager Steven Pressley delivered high praise hailing Branthwaite in an interview with Everton’s official website:
“He had so many quality attributes to become a top player,” he said.
“I told people he was a future England international.
“The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer.”
It has been reported this week that the Toffees are in talks to cut short the player’s loan spell with PSV despite entering a deal for a season-long loan opportunity for Branthwaite, so it is clear Lampard is keen to bring his defender back to Goodison Park as soon as possible.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Branthwaite makes a rapid return to Everton in January as it is questionable as to whether he will get as much game time at his parent club as he could be offered with PSV over the second half of the season.