‘I was amazed’ – Sean Dyche really surprised by ‘monster’ Everton player decision

Sean Dyche Reacts to Jarrad Branthwaite’s Snub from Premier League Young Player of the Year Nominations

Everton manager Sean Dyche has expressed his surprise and disappointment that defender Jarrad Branthwaite was not included in the nominations for the Premier League Young Player of the Year award. The 21-year-old has been impressive for the Toffees this season, making 34 starts in the Premier League and scoring three goals.

Dyche said, “Jarrad Branthwaite didn’t make the list. I was amazed by that.” The nominees for the award include Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Destiny Udogie, Erling Haaland, Kobbie Mainoo, and Alexander Isak.

Branthwaite’s exclusion from the list is a surprise given his outstanding performances for Everton this season. He has been praised by pundits, with Ian Wright calling him a “monster.” His impressive form has also attracted the attention of other clubs, with Manchester United reportedly interested in signing him.

However, Everton’s ownership situation is currently uncertain, which could impact their ability to keep hold of Branthwaite. The club’s owner, Farhad Moshiri, is in the process of selling the club to 777 Partners, but there are reports that he may terminate the contract and look for other investors. This uncertainty could make it difficult for Everton to retain their star players, including Branthwaite.

Dyche has expressed his desire to keep Branthwaite at the club, but he also acknowledges that the defender’s impressive form has attracted attention from other clubs. “He’s been outstanding for us this season, and I think he’s got a big future ahead of him,” Dyche said. “But we’ll have to wait and see what happens in the summer.”

The situation is complicated by the fact that Branthwaite has a contract at Goodison Park until 2027, and any club interested in signing him would have to pay a significant transfer fee. Manchester United have reportedly earmarked him as a target to bolster their defense, but they would have to pay over £50m to secure his signature.

In addition to Branthwaite’s situation, Everton’s ownership uncertainty is also impacting their ability to plan for the future. Dyche has expressed his frustration at the lack of clarity over the club’s ownership and transfer budget, which is making it difficult for him to plan for next season.

“It’s not ideal, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” Dyche said. “We need clarity over the ownership and transfer budget as soon as possible so we can plan for next season.”

In the meantime, Everton will focus on their final game of the season against Arsenal, which could have a significant impact on the title race. Manchester City need a win against West Ham to lift the title, but if they draw and Arsenal win against Everton, the Gunners could snatch the title.

Despite the uncertainty over the club’s ownership and transfer budget, Dyche is proud of the progress Everton have made this season. “We’ve secured Premier League safety, which is a significant step forward,” he said. “We should have been on 10th without the point deduction, so we’ve made progress despite the challenges we’ve faced.”

As Everton look to the future, they will be hoping to keep hold of their star players, including Branthwaite, and build on the progress they have made this season. However, the uncertainty over the club’s ownership and transfer budget is making it difficult for them to plan for next season, and they will be hoping for clarity as soon as possible.