Gareth Southgate’s England, Jarrad Branthwaite call could cost Carlisle United: View | OneFootball

When the news filtered through that Jarrad Branthwaite had been left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this summer’s European Championships, a collective sense of shock swept across the nation.

Calmness personified, the 21-year-old enjoyed a stellar season at the heart of Everton’s defence and seemed to have booked his seat on the plane to Germany by finishing the Premier League campaign strongly.

With Harry Maguire missing the tournament through injury, Branthwaite’s inclusion in the squad would have represented a changing of the guard - his omission however feels short-sighted.

While Southgate’s choice to leave Branthwaite at home has been subject to intense media scrutiny and has resulted in backlash from annoyed supporters, his decision will have a more profound impact on Carlisle United.

The Cumbrians are believed to have negotiated a 15 per cent sell-on clause with Everton when the player was sold to the Toffees in 2020.

Throughout the season, as Branthwaite has maintained his lofty standards, the centre-back has been routinely linked with a big-money move away from Goodison Park.

So far, Everton have remained unsympathetic in their approach to Branthwaite’s prospective sale. While the club valued their prize asset at £80 million, they have dismissed speculation surrounding a future transfer.

But had the star centre-back forced his way into Southgate’s 26-man squad, taken the Euros by storm and made a resounding impression on the international stage, his value would have risen even further and interest in his talent would have continued to build, much to the benefit of Carlisle.

Gareth Southgate's Jarrad Branthwaite decision will sting for Carlisle United

John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi and most surprisingly, Lewis Dunk all made the cut at the expense of Branthwaite and will fly out to Germany as part of England’s European Championship squad.

For many, this summer’s tournament ought to have been a sliding doors moment for Branthwaite, even though the youngster would have been on the periphery of the 26, unlikely to feature in the side’s important games.

Had Branthwaite made Southgate’s final selection, he would have been signposted as a potential England starter. This would have given weight to Everton’s steep valuation and may have piqued interest from some of the Premier League's biggest clubs, looking to bring in a marquee signing to satiate their fanbase's need for another mainstream star.

When Branthwaite made the 33-man preliminary squad, before it was whittled down, Carlile United’s owners would have begun to seriously think about the proceeds brought in by the player’s future transfer.

While the club will still expect to see a major windfall in the future, the sum brought in could have been even more mouthwatering had Branthwaite’s stock soared after a successful Euros campaign.

As a result, Southgate’s squad decision will sting, but the Cumbrians will not be too concerned. Their former player has now broken into the England fold with his recent call-up; many more international appearances look to be on the horizon, and his price looks set to rise further.

Carlisle United set to benefit from clever sales strategy

The decision to push for a sell-on clause has paid off for Carlisle. The club from the North-West have seen their sales strategy validated by Branthwaite’s meteoric rise.

When the Cumbrians sold their star defender in 2020 for an estimated £1.1 million fee, the club could have opted for a larger price upfront instead of banking on Branthwaite’s ability.

The side’s trust in their former player has paid off. If the rising star was to be sold by Everton for £80 million, Carlisle would be in line to receive £12 million.

Although the club have hit the jackpot with Branthwaite, as the player is yet to suffer any injury setbacks and is firmly on an upward curve, other teams should take note of their sell-on clause success.

Even after Branthwaite’s omission from the England squad, the side stand to see a major return on their long-term investment.