Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite has attracted interest from a number of clubs in the past, including Manchester United, and his England career could impact a potential move.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is someone who doesn't need to be bigged up when it comes to Evertonians.
The former Carlisle centre-back is undoubtedly Everton's most valuable player at the moment and many expect him to develop into one of the best defender's in world football.
So far, the Toffees have managed to avoid Branthwaite heading through the exit door, perhaps due to his recent injury troubles. Club's appear to have been put off recently, with interest going quiet, although some interest has emerged once again from Manchester United in the media.
This season, Branthwaite has been one of Everton's strongest performers, and naturally, he was called up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the international break. Branthwaite was given a handful of minutes as England lost to Spain on Saturday evening, but it does feel like this is just the beginning of his international career.
The 24-year-old has been in and out of the England squad over the last few years, with injuries undoubtedly hampering his chances of regularly making the squad. Branthwaite has, so far, remained fit all season, and if that continues, he's a shoo-in to be a regular for his country down the line.
Is Branthwaite going to be a regular for England?
It's hard to see the Everton defender not becoming a regular for his country. England made a host of defensive errors against Spain at the weekend, and the defence is undoubtedly the weakest part of the team.
Branthwaite is arguably the best left-footed centre-back England have, only really competing with Levi Colwill if we're looking towards the future.
Branthwaite is still yet to reach his full potential, which is the scary thing, and he's already performing at such a high level.
The Everton centre-back is the perfect mix of a player who is comfortable defending his own box and throwing his body on the line to block shots, while also being able to play out from the back, offering balance as a left-footer in a centre-back role. His recovery pace can be crucial and allows the team to play a higher line, while he can break lines through his passing to beat the opposition press.
If Tuchel, or the next England manager, can't see that, well more fool them.
Is Branthwaite being an England regular good or bad?
So there are multiple factors to consider when deciding whether Branthwaite playing regularly for England is good for Everton.
What will Branthwaite playing for England bring? Well, it's likely to increase his value and mean more eyes are on him, with Branthwaite able to show he's capable of playing against the best players in the world on the international stage. So, if you're looking to sell a valuable asset, it should help you receive as much money as possible.
If Branthwaite doesn't play regularly for England, it might be a little easier to keep hold of him. Look at Adam Wharton, for example. Not really fancied by England and remains at Crystal Palace, whereas Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, and Elliot Anderson have all got big moves recently.
In terms of keeping the player happy, Branthwaite will want to play at the highest level. If he can play for England while still being at Everton, it could tempt him into staying longer, especially if we show signs of starting to compete for the European places.
If we're being realistic, we can't hide Branthwaite forever. He was fairly well hidden last season due to his injuries, but that was a huge negative for us. So if we want him performing well, eyes are going to be on him regardless.
Everton need to put themselves in the strongest position possible when it comes to potential interest. Branthwaite playing regularly for England does that, so overall, it's a positive if he becomes a mainstay in Tuchel's side.
Everton need to enjoy him while they can, realistically. The Toffees need to start pushing for them European places if they want to keep players like Branthwaite at the club. As we saw with Iliman Ndiaye, it doesn't take long for players to make the decision they want to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Branthwaite has what it takes to play at the highest level, including for England.
