Jarrad Branthwaite says he is feeling confident and ready to "keep learning" with Everton ahead of the new season, despite interest from Manchester United.
The Red Devils have seen two offers rejected for the 22-year-old defender, who is valued between £70-£80million by the Toffees.
Branthwaite made 41 appearances for Everton last term, with his impressive performances earning him the club's Players' Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards.
He also received his first senior England call-up and was named in Gareth Southgate's provisional Euro 2024 squad, though he was ultimately left out of the final 26.
And Branthwaite hopes he can continue building on that momentum heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
"I think for me, it's just about taking what I learned from last season, and the season before, and putting it all together," he told Everton's official website.
"I think last season, playing all the games I did, helped me put performances in and get the experience I needed. I'm going to take that into this season and keep learning.
"When you've got a good defensive record, it gives you confidence going into the new season.
"It's not just the defenders who contribute to that, it's the whole team, and it's the way the manager has us set up to give us the best possible chance to win games and to pick up as many points as we can.
"I think it'll be the same again this season. Hopefully, we can pick up a few wins early on and get the momentum going in the new season."
Everton also confirmed on Friday that The Friedkin Group will not be buying a majority stake in the club, having been granted a period of exclusivity last month.
Howe wants Newcastle stay as long as he is 'happy' amid England links
Eddie Howe says he wants to stay at Newcastle United as long as he is "happy" in his position amid links to the vacant England job.
Gareth Southgate stepped down as the Three Lions manager on Tuesday following their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Howe is reportedly one of the favourites to replace Southgate, though Newcastle CEO Darren Eales was confident they could keep the manager on Tyneside.
However, the club is undergoing changes in the off-season; co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have left, while Paul Mitchell and James Bunce have been appointed as sporting director and performance director respectively.
During an interview at Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Germany, Howe hinted that those shifts in the club could affect his position.
"Being very, very proud to be Newcastle manager, this is all about Newcastle," Howe said. "It's not about England. So, as long as I am happy, feel supported, feel free to work in the way that I want to work, I have not thought of anything else other than Newcastle.
"I absolutely love the club. I love the supporters. I love where I am at in my career. There is no better place for me to be. That is how I feel.
"There has been a lot of change at the football club this summer. It has been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club. With change comes always a new feeling.
"You can point to PSR, Amanda and Mehrdad, a change in sporting director which, of course, influences me. These are all big changes. That is why I've made the points that I have because this has to work for Newcastle.
"It's not about me as the manager. I'm slightly irrelevant. It's about making sure Newcastle is as strong as it can be for the next season and beyond. We've all got to come together and make sure we are the force that we want to be.
"We're in the flux of change, it's just happened. I can't say with a definitive answer where that will lead."
While Howe did not definitively rule out leaving Newcastle to become England's manager should the FA approach him, he admitted he did not feel a big draw to the position.
"I think England is a very special job for someone," he added. "I am very patriotic, and I'm not ashamed to say that.
"I love my country. I want my country to do well. I was gutted for Gareth and the lads that they did not win the Euros.
"But I don't have that job like a burning sensation in me that I have to do it at some stage. If it happens at some stage in the future, then it's to be for me.
"If not, then I'm very, very happy in the current role that I'm doing. The day-to-day management.
"I had this situation a lot at Bournemouth in my second spell, but I was very, very happy, in my environment, in my day-to-day workings. So, I had no desire to leave. For me, that's always been my key driver: my happiness and my ability to do my job."
'A good test': U-17 Reggae Boyz head coach Butler welcomes Griffin friendly contest
Jamaica’s Under-17 head coach Altimont “Freddie” Butler welcomed the upcoming friendly contest against American Academy Griffin USA Under-17 as a good test for his young Reggae Boyz as they continue preparation for next year’s Concacaf Championship.
The friendly encounter, scheduled for July 27 at Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, New York, follows a recent series that Butler’s side engaged against their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts.
“This upcoming game against Griffin will be a good test for our boys. We have been training locally and also in North America and things have been progressing nicely. We also played Trinidad and Tobago in two friendlies earlier this year which was helpful as well,” Butler said.
“So this friendly is another opportunity for the players to show they deserve to be part of the squad by the time the qualifiers come around in January or February next year. We also have 8 spots in Concacaf now and we are aiming to be one of those 8 to qualify for the U-17 World Cup,” he added.
That Concacaf Under-17 Championships will serve as a qualifier to the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Earlier this year FIFA expanded the Under-17 World Cup from 24 to 48 teams. This also meant Concacaf saw an increase in slot allocation from four to eight.
Jamaica has played at two editions of the Under-17 World Cup. The first appearance was in 1999 in New Zealand, and the second appearance was in 2011 in Mexico.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Football Federation(JFF) is also in the process of identifying more opportunities for friendly matches for the Under-17 team later this calendar year.
Fabregas officially appointed Como head coach
Cesc Fabregas has signed a four-year deal to officially become the permanent head coach of Como.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder was promoted to first-team head coach on an interim basis last November, but only for a month due to not having his UEFA coaching badges yet.
Fabregas led the club from seventh to third in his short tenure, and stayed on as an assistant to Osian Roberts when he was named caretaker – he has now moved into a development role at the club.
Under their stewardship, Como earned automatic promotion to Serie A for the first time in 21 years.
Having now completed his badges, Fabregas will take charge of the club for their return to the top-flight.
Fabregas said: "I am so happy to be starting this season as head coach and I thank the ownership group for trusting me with this position.
"I share the ambitions of the group and believe this is just the start of where this club can go. It's going to be a tough and important season but myself and the rest of the coaching staff are ready, and we all believe."
Fabregas' first Serie A game in charge of Como will be away to Thiago Motta's Juventus on August 19.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
