'Nothing would tempt me to sell him'

06-06-2025

We asked for your views on Jarrad Branthwaite and his future at Everton, after one supporter described him as "priceless" to the club and a "generational talent".Here are some of your comments:George: Give him a long-term contract that rewards him now and gives him progressive incentives to stay. Monetary and status (club captain?). Make him want to stay. The grass is not always greener elsewhere!Dave: Yes, I completely agree that he must stay at Everton. He is beyond doubt an excellent centre-half and will only keep on improving as years progress. Give him all the encouragement he needs to stay at a club that is on the up.Graham: Branthwaite is the best young centre-back in the world! Tall, strong, quick, good passing ability, everything you need. Just needs to improve his leadership, but that will come with age. Nothing would tempt me to sell him, as you cannot replace him. If the club were to sell, the figure at least has to be £100m starting point. He would be a steal at £150m!David: I hope Jarrad can give us one more season. Then take stock and see if we are progressing. If an offer he or we can't refuse, then fine. Part ways on good terms. But if we overachieve and we are in Europe, then just maybe he will stay.Jameson: Branthwaite is a really talented defender, but as a Blue, he's not irreplaceable. Remember John Stones? Another generational talent lost less than a generation ago for a quite tidy sum of money. I hope we keep him, but if we don't, it's not the end of the world. We need equally talented players higher up the pitch more, and could plug in Keane in defence and still do OK. Mike: I would like Branthwaite to spend his career with us, but that's not going to happen. He's better than Stones, and he went for £50m years ago. Chelsea paid £75m for Fofana, that's a starting bid. Branthwaite has not been trying to force a move. He seems to be a decent lad. He has a couple of years left on his contract. Hopefully someone will offer stupid money, which would help further stabilise to club.

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England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick left unimpressed with India's tactics

The Independent

26 minutes ago

The Independent

England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick left unimpressed with India's tactics

England engaged in another day of angry on-field exchanges in their decisive fifth Test against India, with the tourists openly targeting Joe Root and assistant coach Marcus Trescothick taking a dim view of the opposition's antics. There have been several fractious moments between the teams since a time-wasting row at Lord's lit the blue touch paper and there were another three to add to the list on a box office second day at the Kia Oval. There were 342 runs and 15 wickets in total, with India ending up with a 52-run lead at 75 for two in their second innings. But the post-match debates lingered on the latest batch of flashpoints. Root was visibly riled by something that was said to him by Prasidh Krishna, shouting indignantly at the seamer before the umpires moved to warn India about their behaviour. Ben Duckett was at the centre of two incidents, the second of which appeared to involve him enraging Sai Sudharsan following his late dismissal. Earlier, having been picked up on stump microphones telling Akash Deep 'you can't get me out', he went on to be dismissed by the pace bowler and received an unusual send-off. Deep put his arm over the opener's shoulders as he walked towards the pavilion and grinned as he offered some unsolicited farewell words. 'There is no need to walk him off in that fashion. Your job is done at that point,' said Trescothick, England's assistant coach. 'I don't think I've ever seen a bowler do that after getting someone out. It was strange really.' Television cameras had picked up Trescothick making some animated gestures in the dressing room and he explained: 'We were chatting on the balcony. Many in my time would have just dropped the elbow on him or something quite different. I was just laughing and joking about it.' As for Root's uncharacteristic tirade, Trescothick added: 'I think they made a comment didn't they? He (Krishna) tried to get after him and spark him up a little bit. Joe's normally the kind of guy who laughs and giggles and allows things to happen, but today he chose a different route. Today Joe bit back.' Krishna admitted it was part of a deliberate ploy to unsettle England's best batter, but insisted nothing untoward had been said. 'That was the plan, but I didn't really expect the couple of words that I said to get such a big reaction from him,' he said. 'It was a very small thing. I think it was just a competitive edge amongst us that was coming out. But I love the guy that he is, he's a legend of the game.' Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook told BBC's Test Match the tactic may have been a smart one and predicted more of the same as the game moves towards its conclusion. 'Why wouldn't you try to upset Joe Root? His record against India is superb,' he said. 'You can say that it did work because Joe only got 29 when he normally averages 60 against them, so it's a success. Fair play to Krishna. I hope it didn't cross that line and was good old honest sledging. It definitely got Joe Root out of his bubble. 'We're in for some more fireworks. It's not going away for the next three days.'

Tom Lockyer close to football return after suffering cardiac arrest on the pitch

The Independent

26 minutes ago

The Independent

Tom Lockyer close to football return after suffering cardiac arrest on the pitch

Former Luton captain Tom Lockyer has revealed he is 'four weeks away' from being allowed to play football again. Lockyer has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023. The 30-year-old Wales defender had previously collapsed on the field just seven months earlier during the Hatters' Sky Bet Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Coventry. Lockyer, speaking ahead of Luton's opening Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kenilworth Road, told Sky Sports: 'I haven't had a break, I've been working all the way through, just trying to get this ankle right and trying to get fit. 'But I've had a really good few weeks and hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.' Luton, relegated in May for the second successive season, told Lockyer his contract would not be renewed when it expired this summer. But they have allowed him to use their facilities and work with their physios and medical staff during his rehabilitation. The former Bristol Rovers centre-back, who led Luton to Premier League promotion in 2023, added: 'They've been fantastic and have allowed me to come in and use the facilities and the knowledge of all the physios, so I can't thank them enough for that. 'It allows me to stay among the team spirit – there's a good one here. There's been a few changes, but they're trying to hold on to that ethos that no-one is bigger than the team and I absolutely love that. 'It's allowed me to go in every day, still be around it, still feel involved and I'm just itching to get back now.' Lockyer, who has had a defibrillator fitted similar to former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, snapped an ankle ligament during his return to full fitness, which required two operations.

Bristol Rovers sign Swiss forward Cavegn

BBC News

27 minutes ago

BBC News

Bristol Rovers sign Swiss forward Cavegn

Bristol Rovers have signed forward Fabrizio Cavegn from FC Vaduz for an undisclosed 22-year-old has agreed a three-year contract with the League Two former Switzerland Under-21 international made 36 appearances in the Swiss second tier last season, scoring 13 boss Darrell Clarke told the club website, external: "We've been looking to add reinforcements to our attacking options and Fabrizio will bring versatility, pace, and precision to our front line."