Sean Dyche addressed questions about The Friedkin Group’s proposed takeover of Everton and the future of Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton manager Sean Dyche admits he’ll have to “wait and see” how The Friedkin Group’s agreed takeover deal with Farhad Moshiri potentially impacts on the club’s business in the January window – both in terms of retaining Jarrad Branthwaite and his own transfer budget. Following renewed speculation over Branthwaite’s future after speculation linked Everton’s most valuable asset with what would be a hugely controversial move to neighbours Liverpool, Dyche has responded.
He said: “I think I said in the summer, any player at Everton Football Club, it’s a worldwide market now, it’s not just about one player, the way that the game’s changed. Everyone in the world, well certainly in Europe, the transfer situation has opened up across Europe.
“It’s not a surprise that good players are linked with other clubs, that’s just the way it goes and the nature of it. I said in the summer he’d be staying here, he is, so that’s good.”
READ MORE: Roma chief hints at what could be biggest difference at Everton after Friedkin takeoverREAD MORE: ‘It’s something I never expected’ – Joe Royle receives Everton honour
Asked if that meant he was confident of retaining Branthwaite‘s services beyond January, Dyche said: “The club has a situation that it will still be looking upon. Obviously if the new ownership does go through, that might change things, financially, in the viewpoint of where the club is at and where it wants to go, but we don’t know that yet, so we’ll have to just wait and see.”
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
There was another article that claimed Dan Friedkin – who was photographed in the UK yesterday playing golf with his son Ryan at St Andrews – could be set to hand the Blues a substantial transfer war chest in January but Dyche questioned how much substance was in the story.
He said: “It’s fair to say there weren’t many quotes in there. I try and stick to the facts and I certainly haven’t heard anything from the owners at all and certainly not about transfer budgets.
“As there were no quotes, I’d take that as a mythical story, like there’s many out there. Until it becomes a fact, I try and concentrate on the facts and I certainly know no other at this stage.”
In terms of speaking to Everton’s potential new owners, Dyche admitted there had been no dialogue so far. He said: “From my point of view I’m always willing to speak to whoever needs speaking to. No, I haven’t heard anything from their side of things.”
Everton host Newcastle United on Saturday in their final game before the latest international break and with strikers Youssef Chermiti and deadline day loan signing Armando Broja both long term absentees, the 53-year-old offered updates on right-back pair, Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson.
Dyche said: “They’re a bit longer those two, Coleman’s a bit longer too. Not too much longer, we’d be hopeful over this international period that he gets closer.
“Patto is more common sense now. He’s out training all the time, but he needs a game programme after being out just about that six-month mark, so a bit of a longer term situation but he’s making good progress and he’s training regularly, and so far, so good.”
