Everton have endured a season wrought with setbacks, and will be happy if they can limp over the finish line with survival still in their hands.
After all, this is a side simply treading water, desperately gasping for air as the Premier League and those around them keep trying to push them under.
For two years they have stayed afloat, but this really feels like it might be the toughest of the bunch given the two deductions administered.
Well, regardless of whether Sean Dyche takes the Toffees down or not, Jarrad Branthwaite is unlikely to stick around for long anyway.
Bayern Munich join the race to sign Jarrad Branthwaite
In a report detailed by TEAMtalk, a fresh update has now emerged on the future of Branthwaite.
The 21-year-old, who has been in imperious form for the Toffees this season, has already put himself in high demand with his consistently outstanding displays under Dyche.
As such, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid have all shown interest in acquiring his services this summer.
However, with Champions League semi-finalists Bayern Munich having outlined their recent penchant for acquiring English talent, having snagged both Harry Kane and Eric Dier from Spurs, perhaps they could be set to crash the party.
That aforementioned report seems to think so, noting: ‘However, Man Utd are absolutely not alone in their admiration for Branthwaite and sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that Bayern Munich have taken a look from a distance. Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, has suggested the Englishman to his bosses at Tottenham Hotspur.’
Jarrad Branthwaite needs to capture a record-breaking fee for Everton
If they are to sanction Branthwaite’s sale this summer, Everton will have to ensure they amass a record-breaking fee.
After all, not only will they want plenty to source a suitable replacement, but it also needs to be enough to ensure that they can ease their PSR woes with it.
This is a club that has been severely hamstrung of late because of their financial issues, and a huge figure, hopefully upwards of the £75m some reports have touted, could be enough to secure a deal.
And whilst this might seem like a triumph on the surface, it would leave a gaping vacancy at the back for Dyche, losing pace, height, physicality, anticipation, ball-playing skills and his left foot.
These are crucial assets from the modern game, and to have had him at Goodison Park has been a treat.
No doubt his future lies elsewhere, and should he maintain his current trajectory, the sky truly is the limit.
