Everton’s latest transfer is surely bad news regarding hopes of keeping Lewis Gibson

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton have secured the signature of young defender Jarrad Branthwaite from Carlisle United. The 17-year-old has penned a two-and-half-year deal at the club and will go straight into David Unsworth’s under-23 side, after impressing at Brunton Park this season. 

According to the Daily Mail, the deal will be worth around £1 million and Everton fans will undoubtedly be excited about Branthwaite’s potential to grow into a first-team star.

However, what does the development mean for another Everton youngster?

Lewis Gibson has been at the club since the summer of 2017. He cost an initial £1 million which, according to the Liverpool Echo, could rise to £6 million and is considered one of the top talents at the club. 

However, he is still waiting for a first-team opportunity and his contract expires at the end of the season. He is currently wanted by League One side Ipswich Town but is looking for assurances over first-team football before signing a new deal at Goodison Park, at which point he could head out on loan, according to the Echo.

The same report also suggests that teams in Holland and Germany are interested in the player. 

So what signal does signing another young central defender send to Gibson?

It certainly cannot help them in their bid to persuade him into a new deal. Everton also have the talented Ryan Astley in their under-23s, so there is plenty of competition for Gibson to make his mark on the first-team. 

Everton will undoubtedly be pleased to have signed Branthwaite, who looks a real talent for the future. However, it might just cost them a player they once had huge expectations for.