What The Papers Say – 18 January

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

The Athletic claims Everton are among a trio of Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Brighton & Hove Albion’s excellent young right-back Tariq Lamptey.

Lamptey is currently sidelined with hamstring issues but last week signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the club he joined from Chelsea 12 months ago.

That development won’t deter Everton, Arsenal or Manchester City, according to the website, with those clubs apparently keeping the 20-year-old Englishman fixed in their sights.

Tuttomercatoweb in Italy claims Everton will have competition from Serie A Parma in the chase for Joshua Zirkzee.

Reports at the back end of last week claimed Everton were closing on a loan move for Bayern Munich striker Zirkzee.

But it is now said the Bundesliga club could sanction a temporary move to Parma, where they expect the 19-year-old to be granted extensive playing time for a team light on goals this term.

A second Italian outlet, Corriere dello Sport, suggests the agent of Everton’s Brazilian attacker Bernard is poised to meet with the Club today.

Roma apparently want the 28-year-old, manager Paulo Fonseca supposedly keen to reunite with a player he had at Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.

Everton are “open to a sale”, declares the report, which speculates over Robin Olsen, the Roma goalkeeper on loan at Goodison Park, potentially being included in any deal.

Another player tipped in some quarters for a January Goodison transfer is Bournemouth forward Joshua King.

The Norwegian, who turned 29 last week, is reportedly ready to leave Bournemouth this month, in advance of his contract expiring at the end of the campaign.

According to one national publication, however, Everton view King as a potential “squad option” and interest is “cooling” because of the former Manchester United striker’s salary request.

Jarrad Branthwaite swapped Everton for Blackburn Rovers on a loan deal until the end of the season last week.

The accomplished teenage defender made his debut in Saturday’s Championship 1-1 draw with Stoke City and earned a sound review from Tony Mowbray.

Blackburn manager Mowbray told the club’s website, cited by the Lancashire Telegraph: “Jarrad was very good. I think he keeps things simple and just does his job, which is remarkable considering he’s 18.

“Sometimes, as an 18-year-old, it’s pretty hard to come up against experienced grown men who have been around a long time, playing at the highest level, and know how to use their bodies against you.

“Generally, he did exceptionally well. His distribution was good, he competed very well, and he looked steady.”