Tottenham look set to miss out on a reported centre-back target this summer, with Jarrad Branthwaite ready to commit his long-term future to Everton.
Branthwaite has emerged as one of the Premier League's finest young defenders over the past couple of seasons, forming a sturdy relationship alongside James Tarkowski at Goodison Park.
The towering Englishman attracted strong interest from Manchester United last summer, but Everton's understandably lofty valuation prevented any move from happening. Off the back of another strong league campaign, interest in the 23-year-old was projected again this summer, but the Toffees are aiming to hush all transfer talk.
Jarrad Branthwaite signing new Everton deal but isn't the defender Spurs need
🚨🔵 Jarrad Branthwaite, set to accept Everton proposal and sign new deal at the club.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 27, 2025
The agreement will be valid until June 2030, as @_pauljoyce reports. pic.twitter.com/oEchS44M0R
Fabrizio Romano reported over the weekend that Everton are closing in on agreeing a contract extension with Branthwaite, whose current deal expires in 2027. The defender, who joined the Toffees as a 17-year-old in 2020, is willing to extend his stay on Merseyside until 2030.
A new deal doesn't completely eliminate the possibility of a transfer this summer, but it'd render a move highly unlikely. Everton would be able to demand whatever they please for the England international, having supposedly valued the defender at ÂŁ70m while United were attempting to sign him last summer.
As it stands, Branthwaite isn't a defender Tottenham need, and, in truth, he's not someone I would've targeted as a Cristian Romero replacement. Very rarely do you see two preferred left footers make up a centre-back partnership, and Branthwaite has spent the bulk of his Premier League career on the left side of defence.
Nevertheless, a couple of reputable sources, including Paul Joyce and Gary Jacob of The Times (via The Spurs Express on X), said that the Englishman was a defender we were considering this summer.
Our need for a centre-back depends on whether Romero stays or goes. The Argentine is currently on holiday with his family ahead of the start of pre-season, but doubt remains as to whether he'll push for a move away off the back of Ange Postecoglou's exit. The timing of his farewell message to the former boss—hours after Thomas Frank's appointment was confirmed—pointed towards discontent.
Behind the two undoubted starters, Spurs now boast more depth with Luka Vuskovic arriving after turning 18 and Kota Takai joining from Kawasaki Frontale. Neither player should be expected to play a major role right away, but they're a pair of projects worthy of some excitement.
We currently look well stocked at the heart of defence, but we're a serious Atletico Madrid pursuit away from consternation.