Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been speaking in glowing terms this week about a player linked with Chelsea in the transfer rumour mill.
We’ve seen a complete remoulding of the Chelsea squad in the last couple of years at Stamford Bridge, with supporters still waiting to see the reward on the pitch.
It’s been a quite obvious policy under this ownership to invest in some of the world’s most exciting and highly-rated young players.
Now the summer window is only a few months away, the Blues are receiving links to potential transfer targets. In particular, there’s a Premier League youngster that perfectly fits the strategy when it comes to signings.
Jarrad Branthwaite, who’s only 21, is rumoured to be on Chelsea’s radar.
The Everton central defender, who’s currently with the England senior camp for the first time, is having a superb campaign at club level.
According to The Daily Mail last month Chelsea are one of the clubs to make an enquiry about signing Branthwaite from Everton this summer . Meanwhile, journalist Ben Jacobs has reported via X that the Toffeess will demand at least £70 million for defensive colossus Branthwaite.
Jordan Pickford, who plays behind Branthwaite for Everton, has admitted he’s a huge fan of his teammate’s ability.
“He’s been really good [this season]. A bit of a Rolls Royce,” Pickford told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
“He’s been in the [England] under 21s set up as well for the last 18 months, so he’ll have been watched closely and his performances for Everton have been great.
“He’s calm and he makes the right decisions as well. So yeah, he’s been quality this season.
“It’ll be a massive honour for him and his family to get called up for England. But fully deserved I would say.”
Jarrad Branthwaite looks a special talent
From what we’ve seen of Branthwaite in the Premier League this year, he’s a young centre-back with a massive future ahead of him.
But our view is the Everton star shouldn’t be a priority target this summer.
Chelsea already own two quality left-footed centre-halves in Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill, so it could be overloaded with Branthwaite also in the squad.
Yes, the Everton man is a youngster on the rise, especially if he’s awarded a senior England debut tonight against Belgium. It’s got to be full steam ahead for a new prolific centre-forward this summer, though!