Inside story of how Jarrad Branthwaite came to sign a new Everton contract

Jarrad Branthwaite’s new Everton contract took less than a fortnight to secure in a move that was a landmark show of faith by both club and player. Getting the coveted centre-back to buy into the vision for the Blues was seen as one of the top priorities in an historic summer for the club.

Achieving that so quickly has galvanised a fanbase desperate to enjoy better times and provided momentum heading into the start of pre-season

Talks formally opened between the Blues and Branthwaite’s representatives, as first reported by the ECHO, in mid-June. But, in reality, they became inevitable 12 months ago amid the derisory bids for the player made by Manchester United.

United, sensing Everton were vulnerable ahead of the deadline to comply with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations, submitted two offer, the second of which amounted to a package worth around £50m.

Neither came close to the club’s valuation of a player after a breakthrough year in which he became one of Europe’s standout defensive talents.

The Red Devils were not wrong to think the Blues needed to do business but last summer, like this, they began the close season determined to keep hold of Branthwaite.

The focus before and after the PSR deadline was on retaining the starlet and business was constructed accordingly. Then director of football Kevin Thelwell secured the late-June sales of Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin to ensure regulatory compliance for the first time in three years.

He then sanctioned the sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa in a £50m deal that fell below the asking price previously set for the Belgium international but which ensured the club could reject bids for Branthwaite, who was viewed as more critical to the setup of then manager Sean Dyche, unless they were too good to turn down.

Everton won that battle and with it, protected Branthwaite for a further season.

Yet while the club could take comfort in having secured him to a new deal just after he broke into Dyche’s first team, one that would run to 2028 if the option to extend it by a further 12 months was taken by Everton chiefs, those terms were redundant just eight months after the ink had dried.