Reece Welch set to join new club after Everton green light – sources
Everton are planning to loan out defender Reece Welch next season as Championship and Dutch Eredivisie sides are racing to sign him, sources have told Football Insider.
Welch spent the first half of the most recent campaign on loan at Forest Green in League Two and the Toffees feel he would benefit from another temporary spell away from Goodison Park next season.
Dutch sides SC Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen have registered their interest in the 20-year-old as well as English second-tier clubs as they look to offer him more first-team football.
Everton are especially keen on the centre-back following in the footsteps of Jarrad Branthwaite after he enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell with Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23 before becoming a crucial member of Sean Dyche’s side on his return.
Goodison chiefs have high hopes for Welch and believe a loan move this summer will be the ideal step for him to continue his development.
Everton want Reece Welch to follow in Jarrod Branthwaite footsteps
Welch made his Everton debut in February 2022 against Boreham Wood in the FA Cup, but he has since only made one more senior appearance.
The defender started in 17 of his 23 games for Forest Green last season before being recalled by the Toffees in January.
The club are eager to see Welch follow a similar path to Branthwaite after Eredivisie sides SC Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen have registered their interest in securing a loan deal for him this summer.
Branthwaite made 36 appearances during his time in the Netherlands after nailing down a starting spot in the PSV side.
That experience provided the centre-back with the confidence to go on and earn a place in Dyche’s side over the past nine months, having made 41 starts as he helped the Toffees secure their Premier League status for another year.
Branthwaite also received his first England call-up in March and has been named in Gareth Southgate’s training squad ahead of the upcoming European Championships.
Everton are hoping Welch’s career can follow a similar trajectory to his Blues teammate as they look to help him reach his potential on Merseyside.
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