Arsenal are scouting Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, but there’s little more than that to the situation as it stands.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton and teammates show appreciation to fans following the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on January 04, 2024. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton and teammates show appreciation to fans following the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on January 04, 2024. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano reports that his understanding of links between Arsenal and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is that it’s just normal scouting, with nothing concrete at this stage.

Everton want to keep the defender, and they’re more likely to consider a sale in the summer transfer window, if at all.

Alex Crook had reported on talkSPORT (via TBR) that Arsenal were tracking Branthwaite’s situation, along with a few other Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite (L) slides in to tackle Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (C) during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 17, 2023. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite (L) slides in to tackle Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (C) during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 17, 2023. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Everton are struggling financially at the moment, with the Premier League releasing a statement earlier this week to confirm that the club are in breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

Everton sustained losses above the permitted threshold for the assessment period ending at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign, and an independent commission will now determine the appropriate sanction.

The club have already been docked 10 points this season, though they currently sit outside of the league’s bottom three in spite of that.

Another 10 point deduction would leave them bottom of the table, albeit with plenty of time to salvage their situation.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND: Jarrad Branthwaite of England enters the pitch prior to the UEFA U21 Euro 2025 Qualifier match between England and Northern Ireland at Goodison Park on November 21, 2023. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND: Jarrad Branthwaite of England enters the pitch prior to the UEFA U21 Euro 2025 Qualifier match between England and Northern Ireland at Goodison Park on November 21, 2023. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

The sale of Branthwaite could help Everton out of their current hole, so the player may well be on the market for Arsenal if they step up their interest this summer.