Moyes sends Branthwaite transfer warning as Everton 'hold all the cards'

Everton rejected a £50million offer from Manchester United for Jarrad Branthwaite last summer and David Moyes says the England centre-half is still under contract for three years

David Moyes insists he does not want to lose Jarrad Branthwaite this summer and claims “Everton hold all the cards”. Moyes cashed in on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Joleon Lescott and Thomas Gravesen during his first spell as Everton boss to finance his spending, and after Everton rejected a £50million offer from Manchester United for Branthwaite last summer he says the Blues are in a strong position to keep him.

“You have to remember Jarrad Branthwaite has got three years left on his contract,” said the Everton boss. “You’ve got two years and a year’s option, so if anything, Everton hold all the cards regarding that player.

“I have to say also over the journey over many years that I’ve had at Everton, we’ve had to sell different players from Wayne Rooney to Mikel Arteta and Joleon Lescott.

"It’s part of being a football manager, especially at certain clubs, you have to sell on the journey to try and build as well.

"But I wouldn’t think that Jarrad is one that I would want to lose. That’s for sure.” Branthwaite, 22, has already made his England debut and Moyes agrees he is like John Stones, who he signed from Barnsley for £3million in January 2013.

“There could be a similarity in some ways,” he said. “I think that Jarrad is bigger, quicker than John. John was probably really good on the ball, he also played a couple of positions at the time, he played at full-back and he played in midfield for Barnsley before we signed him.

“So it’s quite a good comparison, there are quite a lot of similarities, but they’re not identical players. I think Jarrad is a young centre-back, 22, who’s done remarkable things in the early part of his career.

"I still think he’s got lots and lots of development, which you would expect from a centre-half. He’s got some incredibly good attributes. I think he’s doing really well, I think he’s a big talent with lots of development still to come.

Moyes also admits he has started to plan for next season because he is certain Everton will be safe. He has avoided making such claims before, but believes he can start building for next season with the Blues 15 points clear of the drop zone. “I believe now we’ve probably got enough points to be a Premier League club,” he said.