Everton FC state of play: Branthwaite valuation, pre-season fitness and a fixed fixture listing
| Topic | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|
| Jarrad Branthwaite transfer stance | The transfer live blog says Everton have reportedly set a price tag of at least £70 million if they are to sell Jarrad Branthwaite this summer. |
| Branthwaite fitness update | A separate transfer live blog snippet says Branthwaite is expected to be fit for pre-season. |
| Everton vs Manchester United fixture listing | Sofascore lists Everton vs Manchester United as starting on 23 February 2026 at 20:00 UTC at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. |
Everton FC’s June 2026 picture is narrow, but the verified markers are clear. The transfer live blog says Everton have reportedly set a price tag of at least £70 million if they are to sell Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, while a separate transfer live blog snippet says he is expected to be fit for pre-season.
That gives Everton a defined summer reference point around one of their most valuable players. Sofascore also shows Everton vs Manchester United was listed for 23 February 2026 at 20:00 UTC at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, and that fixture entry sits among the club’s confirmed reference points already on record.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Everton’s summer line
The Branthwaite valuation is the clearest transfer marker in the latest reporting. The transfer live blog says Everton have reportedly set a price tag of at least £70 million if they are to sell him this summer, which sets a hard floor on any negotiation.
The fitness update is just as important in practical terms. A separate transfer live blog snippet says Branthwaite is expected to be fit for pre-season, so Everton begin the summer with a positive availability note attached to him.
The reporting establishes Everton’s asking price and Branthwaite’s expected fitness, but details beyond that are yet to be confirmed. That is the limit of the verified picture for now.
Everton vs Manchester United fixture listing
Sofascore lists Everton vs Manchester United as starting on 23 February 2026 at 20:00 UTC at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.
This is a confirmed Sofascore listing from the record, not a live preview or result. It is one of the few firm reference points available around Everton’s schedule.
| Match | Date and kick-off time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Everton vs Manchester United | 23 February 2026, 20:00 UTC | Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool |
David Moyes’ Everton side and the defensive numbers
The analysis of David Moyes’ side had Everton at 50.8 xG against in the league heading into that matchweek, compared with 41 goals conceded. That gap shows a defence whose underlying numbers were less comfortable than the raw goals tally suggested.
The same analysis says Everton had conceded the joint-sixth-most goals from open-play crosses before that weekend. That is a more specific warning sign, pointing to a recurring route to goal rather than a broad defensive collapse.
| Metric | Figure/context |
|---|---|
| Expected goals against in the league | 50.8 heading into that matchweek |
| Actual goals conceded | 41 heading into that matchweek |
| Goals conceded from open-play crosses | Joint-sixth-most before that weekend |
Taken together, those numbers frame David Moyes’ side as a team with clear defensive pressure points. The open-play-crosses figure is especially relevant because it identifies where opponents had already been able to hurt Everton.
What Everton know going into pre-season
Branthwaite is expected to be fit for pre-season, which gives Everton one stable piece of summer planning. At the same time, the reported £70 million floor tells you how strongly the club is positioning any possible deal.
The tactical analysis adds another layer. Everton’s 50.8 xG against and 41 goals conceded point to a side that was not simply being overwhelmed on the scoreboard, while the joint-sixth-most goals from open-play crosses shows a repeat issue that needed attention.
There is also a wider context around the club’s ambitions. UEFA competition would be a major boost for Everton after relegation battles, financial turmoil, and other hardship in recent years, so the defensive data and the Branthwaite situation matter beyond one summer window.
Why the verified picture matters now
For Everton FC, the useful takeaway is not a flood of speculation. It is a small set of confirmed facts: Branthwaite’s reported £70 million valuation, his expected pre-season fitness, the defensive profile from the Moyes analysis, and the significance of any UEFA push for a club that has had to deal with difficult recent seasons.
Those are the points readers can rely on now. Everything else around Everton remains to be confirmed.