Everton have accepted that their summer transfer window will go down in ignominy - but that hardly means David Moyes and his side can't enjoy a successful season in the Premier League.

After five games, the Toffees are unbeaten, having won twice. Level with Liverpool, Moyes' side are technically in European contention right now - though seventh place after five games is not much to write home about.

What matters is sustaining this level across the course of the long season. Moyes will need every member of his short-changed squad to chip in, and Jarrad Branthwaite could be the man to lead the way.

How Branthwaite can lead Everton into Europe

Described by journalist Kevin Fernandes as being "one of the best defenders in the country", Branthwaite has been a revelation for Everton over the past several years, only impeded in his growth by a number of injury issues.

He only turned 24 in June, but has been recognised on Merseyside as a superstar for some time, and after spending most of 2025/26 in the infirmary, Branthwaite has started the new season with aplomb. He hasn't missed a minute in the Premier League, notably winning 68% of his aerial duels and making 6.2 clearances per game.

Can you believe Everton signed him from Carlisle United for only £1m in 2020? The 6 foot 5 centre-half is now one of the country's finest, and with Everton lacking depth in attack, it's all the more important that Moyes' defensive roots remain deep within the Hill Dickinson grass.

Manchester United are among the parties to have registered an interest once again, now that Branthwaite is back from the injury purgatory that knocked his reputation. However, Everton want at least £80m for their prized player.

He might have been born in Carlisle, but the Three Lions international was most certainly made on Merseyside, where he continues to show off elite potential, if he's not already there.

What a bargain. It's hard to pull off such a shrewd signing, but the Toffees may feel they have done something similar this summer.

Everton have signed their biggest bargain since Branthwaite

Branthwaite joins the likes of Seamus Coleman and Tim Cahill in arriving for a nominal fee and going on to do great things for Everton, but Moyes may have struck a different kind of bargain this summer.

At the end of the summer transfer window, Everton signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon for a £3m fee. The former Arsenal player had spent three years in France, but he returns to the Premier League an experienced and dynamic player, typically a midfielder but refashioned into a makeshift right-back.

Given Everton's need for wide defenders, his arrival could be crucial. Maitland-Niles has only featured three times in the Premier League, starting twice, and has impressed his progressions and combativeness. He has completed all three of his attempted dribbles, winning 75% of his ground duels and advancing into attacking positions when called upon.

Maitland-Niles is 29 years old, and so does not have the same world-class potential as Branthwaite, but there can be no denying that Everton have completed one of their most shrewd signings in recent years here.

After all, he does the nuts and bolts just fine, but the fact that the former Londoner came up with a glorious, thunderous strike to seal a late draw against Manchester United on his debut, off the bench.

Transfermarkt record that the five-time England star's market value has shot back up to £8m already, a 166% increase on the paltry sum paid for his services. From that alone, Everton can safely say they have struck a financial bargain.

But if Maitland-Niles continues to produce first-class performances in the Premier League this season, he could rival Branthwaite in importance. Indeed, Everton might just find that they have pulled off one of their biggest bargains in years.

Given the need for a range of signings in January, should Moyes and co be serious about signing shiny new players, Everton may look back at this shrewd signing as an instrumental one for the longevity and success of this long-term project.