Everton head coach Sean Dyche has insisted that the Toffees are not interested in selling Jarrad Branthwaite amid the ongoing speculation surrounding the centre-back's future.
The 21-year-old has been in impressive form for his Merseyside club this season, making 30 appearances in all competitions, and Manchester United are said to be determined to sign him this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Real Madrid are also believed to be among the clubs keen on the England Under-21s international, who spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at PSV Eindhoven.
There have been claims that Everton could be forced to sell Branthwaite this summer due to their financial problems.
However, the centre-back has a contract at Goodison Park until June 2027, and Dyche has said that his club are not prepared to entertain a summer departure for the centre-back.
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"We don't want to sell any good players. It's as simple as that and he's proven to be a very good player. We're not in the business of trying to sell players," Dyche told reporters.
"You only sell players if you have to sell players or there's a problem. There's no problem, therefore I'm just hoping we don't need to sell players. At the minute, we certainly don't so we will see.
"What I saw of him, I liked. When the timing was right, I thought 'go on then, go and enjoy it, go and have a go'. I didn't have to say anything to him, just go and play.
"He's adapted well. There are things he still needs to work on, but you unravel a player slowly, you can't just fast-track everything into them and say 'that's it'.
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"So while he's developing nicely and while he's learning, sometimes the hardest thing is not to coach at all when you just step away and go 'no, no, you're fine, you keep doing what you're doing'.
"There's the odd little team, tactical pointers, but I'm not breaking it down every game and saying 'you've got to do this, you've got to do that'. Let him naturally learn as he develops.
"You learn from the environment and culture, I hope he does. That's part of what we set. It's not just about words, it's about the rubbing off of what we're about and then there are the players, they are some very good experienced players here.
"There are some very good professionals, so I'm sure he's learning. I don't sit and talk to him about it and unravel it all. Now and again, we have a little chat, but nothing out of the ordinary."
Relegation for Everton this season would make it difficult for the club to keep hold of their key players this summer, and the club are currently 16th in the Premier League table, five points ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town, who have a game in hand.
Matt Law
