Frank Lampard makes Everton transfer decision after close shave with relegation

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is reportedly set to depart Goodison Park once again on loan this summer.

The 19-year-old, who had a brief loan spell in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers, is set to depart Merseyside having made six appearances and scored once in the Premier League for Frank Lampard’s side last term.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, as published by Lancs Live, Branthwaite is set to depart on a loan exit this summer, with Lampard keen to give the teenager more experience after a smattering of first-team outings in the 2021/22 campaign.

Meanwhile, Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski has been linked with transfer interest from five Premier League clubs in recent months, with the defender expected to become a free agent following the Clarets’ relegation.

Everton are among the clubs linked with Tarkowski, which Branthwaite’s rumoured loan exit could free up space for. Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham and West Ham have also been linked with the centre-back.

Everton are likely to spend big this summer following their narrow escape from relegation in the 2021/22 season. A 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on the penultimate day of the Premier League campaign saw the Toffees avoid what will have been a first relegation in over 70 years.

Branthwaite, who turns 20 later this month, still only has 37 senior appearances to his name, with 14 of them coming with Carlisle United, the club he left Everton for in 2020.

Of Branthwaite’s 13 senior appearances for Everton, eight of which coming this season, he has played 10 times in the Premier League. Branthwaite’s first league start of the 2021/22 campaign came away at Chelsea, where the defender scored in a 1-1 draw with Thomas Tuchel’s side at