September 23rd 2024.
Jadon Sancho, the talented 24-year-old winger, recently made a surprising move from Manchester United to Chelsea on loan until the end of the season. The deal includes an obligation for Chelsea to sign him permanently for a fee between £20-25m next summer. While Sancho's first two appearances for Chelsea have been bright, some suggest that the club should have focused on strengthening their defensive options instead.
Former Chelsea player Pat Nevin believes the club should have pursued Manchester United's transfer target, 22-year-old center-back Jarrad Branthwaite, to secure their defensive line for years to come. Despite multiple bids from United being rejected by Everton over the summer, the Red Devils are expected to try and sign Branthwaite at the end of the season.
Nevin is a huge admirer of Branthwaite and believes he has the potential to play for top clubs like Barcelona. "Of players his age, in that position there’s been very few I’ve seen that good," Nevin said. "Remember centre-backs take a long time to cook. They’re not normally cooked until they’re 24, 25, 26. He’s ready, at the top level and looking the best player."
Branthwaite has yet to feature for Everton this season, but he recently played for their U21 team and expressed his desire to return to the first team. With Everton struggling in the Premier League, Branthwaite's return could make a big impact and help the team climb out of the relegation zone.
Speaking about his recovery, Branthwaite said, "I feel good. It’s good to get out there and get minutes under my belt. The game was entertaining and end-to-end, which is what I needed to get back up to speed. It’s been frustrating, I would love to be out there with the lads. I’ve been taking the time to come back stronger, so that when I do come back, I can make an impact."
Everton will face Crystal Palace, who are also struggling to secure their first Premier League win, on Monday night. It will be a crucial match for both teams, and Branthwaite is determined to make an impact when given the chance to play. "You’ve got to have full belief in your own ability [to get back to the heights he showed last season]," he said. "After being out for such a long time, it’s going to be difficult to get back up to speed, but I believe that when I get a chance to get back in the team, I’ll make an impact."
Meanwhile, Chelsea will have to wait until next summer to make Sancho's loan move permanent. The winger will be looking to revive his career at Stamford Bridge after a disappointing spell at Manchester United under manager Erik ten Hag. Time will tell if Chelsea made the right decision in signing Sancho instead of pursuing Branthwaite, but for now, all eyes are on the young center-back and his potential to become a top player in the future.
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