Chelsea are pushing to challenge for the Premier League title this season but have now been urged to address one of the major weaknesses in Enzo Maresca’s squad
Chelsea have been urged to make a move for Jarrad Branthwaite, who is tipped to be the ‘final piece’ of their jigsaw.
Branthwaite has caught the eye at Everton since becoming a regular in Sean Dyche’s starting line-up. He emerged as a target for Manchester United over the summer, with the Red Devils even submitting a £50million bid for the Englishman.
That was knocked back by the Toffees, who were instead seeking a fee in the region of £80m. United refused to match those demands, with Branthwaite remaining on Merseyside, though he has endured a frustrating campaign.
The 22-year-old has only made five appearances this season as he builds up his match fitness after needing groin surgery in the summer. Despite that though, Chelsea legend Pat Nevin believes that Branthwaite would be the perfect player for the Blues.
“Few people are now brave enough to say that Chelsea cannot win the league this season. Even fewer however are willing to stick their necks out and say, ‘they will win the league’. There are still doubts,” he told BBC Sport.
“Chelsea may be able to rest every EPL starter by sending out an entirely different squad for the European trip to play Astana, but they are yet to convince the pundits domestically. Why? Put simply, there are still weaknesses and these tend to be found out at the top level.
“The central defensive partnership, whoever they use, isn’t close to the level that Arsenal and Liverpool have and you could say the same about the goalkeeper. I just wonder if Jarrad Branthwaite could be prised from my beloved Everton, would this be close to the final piece of the jigsaw?”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Would Jarrad Branthwaite be a good signing for Chelsea? Comment below.
Following their win over Tottenham on Sunday, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher pointed to central defence as being one of Chelsea’s biggest weaknesses. He insisted the Blues needed to bring in reinforcements at the back if they are to challenge for the title.
“I still look at the goalkeeper and two centre backs, [Benoit] Badiashile who played today, and I just think I can’t see someone winning the Premier League with that goalkeeper and without a real standout centre back,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“I think you’d say City winning it with Ederson and [Ruben] Dias, Liverpool with [Virgil] van Dijk and Alisson, going back to Petr Cech and John Terry. those figures, you think, that you need to win a title, I still think Chelsea are a little bit short in those areas.”
Branthwaite would likely be a popular addition, with Everton boss Dyche revealing the defender is close to full fitness. He said: “I think he’s only just getting back to real, true fitness and getting his eye in and I think that will show more, the more that he plays.
“He’s been very unfortunate during the summer with injuries and it was a straight-forward situation, which became a not straight-forward situation. So he’s been very unfortunate, but we think he’s a very good player.”
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