Newcastle have been linked with Carlisle teenager Jarrad Branthwaite over the past few weeks. According to reports, the club have the right of first refusal for the 17-year-old center-back.
It was reported last week that as part of the loan deal for Elias Sorensen, Newcastle have first dibs on the impressive youngster.
Even if that’s the case, it hasn’t stopped several English and Scottish clubs from checking out Branthwaite recently.
understand #mcfc are also scouting 17yo #cufc CB Jarrad Branthwaite, who was watched by #arsenal #efc #celticfc #rangers scouts on Saturday https://t.co/WYWyRTnA6P
— Scouts in Attendance (@scoutsattending) December 9, 2019
New Carlisle manager Chris Beech has spoken about how all of this attention has affected his young defender. The Scottish Sun have published the following comments from Beech:
“The speculation is a challenge for him. I don’t think it’s my job to talk about how hard it will be to keep him – I think it’s the club’s.
“They’ve got to do what’s best for everybody and everything. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. It’s very difficult for him to deal with that as a player.”
Branthwaite, who has become one of the first names on the teamsheet at Carlisle, is valued at around £1m. He looks to have the potential to be a quality Premier League defender.
At 6’4″, he’s got the physique to play in England’s first-tier as well as being able to pick a pass from the back.
From Beech’s comments, it appears as though the interest in the player is genuine. If it’s preying on the youngster’s mind, then it does not appear to be affecting his play.
This is what Beech had to say about his defender coming back into the team this past weekend after being out with a virus:
“At the weekend, I had the choice, I could bring him back in the squad and sit him on the bench, or get him back on the pitch. I wanted him on the pitch.
“I felt Jarrad has the ability to pass and switch play. We didn’t use him enough.
“But he won all his headers, did an immense, strong tackle in the first half, and was excellent in terms of having a go at what he was trying to achieve.
“Jarrad, I’ve seen him now for about 10 days, and I’ve coached a lot of very good young players, but he is excellent.
“I had Dale Stephens at 17, he plays Premier League football for Brighton now. And Jarrad is definitely better than Dale at the same age.”
That’s pretty high praise for the Carlisle born youngster. We hope Newcastle do have the right of first refusal as Branthwaite looks like he could be a quality addition to the Academy.
In other related news, Elias Sorensen has started for the Carlisle reserves in the Central League Cup this afternoon.
The team to face @LaticsOfficial under-23s in the Central League Cup this afternoon: Gray (c), Barnes, Birch, Sagaf, Wilson, Lightfoot, Elliott, Sorensen, Armstrong,Olomola, Charters. Subs – Kerr, Soper, Major #cufc
— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) December 11, 2019
10 comments so far
Mindshaft
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:15 PM
Comment #1Free season tickets are only given at the same age band as the current season ticket holder …..
Oldgit1
Dec 11, 2019 at 10:49 AM
Comment #48
I will just put this out re free season tickets : My grandson who plays for an under 16 team is coached by a season ticket holder, the team is not the best but he does get them to try and quite a few have played since they were in the under sevens.
Some of the kids involved don’t have transport so the coach and other parents and grandparents chauffeur the kids around as far as Whitby.
A lot of the kids come from single parent families and can’t afford to go and see Newcastle, so he went online and managed to get a few free season tickets. He is now going to give some of his players mothers the tickets so when Xmas morning comes along they will get a half season ticket as part of their Xmas presents.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Comment #2True Story.
Jib
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:28 PM
Comment #3Proper Cumbrian name that , Branthwaite
it’s a nice village
Thwaite – old Norse for paddock
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:30 PM
Comment #4Geordie Tom
If it’s so easy to skip posts how come you can’t do it?
Every other day you say to someone “I’ll skip your posts and you skip mine”
Following day you’re back on replying to people you said you’d ignore.
So it’s not “easy as that” otherwise you’d be doing it yourself.
hibbit
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Comment #5Oldgit1
just one more thing to add to that,
unaccompanied kids just aren’t permit even in the family enclosure your mate needs to get some clarification before handing these tickets out to avoid a lot of disappointment.
i really hope this works out for him and the kids
Jib
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:40 PM
Comment #6Juniors are classed as 15 years and under and must be accompanied by an adult
Oldgit said they were 16
hibbit
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:44 PM
Comment #7Oldgit1
Dec 11, 2019 at 10:49 AM
Comment #48
I will just put this out re free season tickets : My grandson who plays for an under 16 team is coached by a season ticket holder, the team is not the best but he does get them to try and quite a few have played since they were in the under sevens.
hibbit
Dec 11, 2019 at 2:57 PM
Comment #8Jib
do you really think i would give out false information/advice to the detriment of a group of underprivileged kids ????
Jib
Dec 11, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Comment #9hibbit
yes I do from the way you have posted before
the cut off date is 31st August
The title ” U16 ” can confuse folk who don’t
know much about footy
There will be quite a few kids playing who will be
16 come December
Australian Pie
Dec 11, 2019 at 3:01 PM
Comment #10On previous discussions Bruce has partially won me over also, although more so from just an acceptance perspective.
He has us picking up vital points early which we as a club generally don’t do and have loved watching us take points from Spurs, United, City