Dyche, the manager of the Toffees, may face a battle to keep hold of him.

Everton manager Sean Dyche hasn’t had too many reasons to smile this season given his club’s poor start to the Premier League campaign.

The Merseyside outfit sit 15th in the league table with just three victories from their 10 matches so far. But one player that has given his manager something to be happy about is defensive youngster Jarrad Branthwaite.

The 21-year-old has impressed in blue following his loan spell at PSV last season, with nine appearances to his name in all competitions this time around.

His displays have placed him right up there among the Premier League’s most talented youngsters, with WhoScored (1 November) noting that Branthwaite is the second-highest-rated player aged 21 and under, among those who have made six or more appearances this season.

Top of the list is Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, with Branthwaite coming next, followed by Tottenham duo Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr, and Chelsea ace Levi Colwill.

However, Toffees manager Dyche may have a battle on their hands when trying to keep hold of Branthwaite. According to The Athletic (24 October), Everton will “likely need to sell” either the centre-back or his midfield teammate Amadou Onana in the next year due to the club’s “perilous” financial situation.

Dyche will not want to lose either player, with the duo certain to be key players in the months to come as the Merseyside outfit try and climb the Premier League table.

They have at least been handed some respite from league action, with Burnley travelling to Goodison Park on Wednesday (1 November) for a League Cup round of 16 clash.

In other Everton news, Chris Sutton has shared a “realistic” Toffees expectation as a Premier League relegation claim is made by the pundit live on BBC.