Liverpool could make shock move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Liverpool could make a surprise move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, as per the Daily Mail (h/t Liverpool Echo).
The 20-year-old centre-back is currently on loan at PSV Eindhoven until the end of the campaign, where he has made 14 Eredivisie appearances this campaign. He is slowly becoming one of the most hyped defenders from England.
Liverpool are supposedly scouting Branthwaite and have been attracted by his abilities as a left-footed defender. Manchester United and AS Roma are also said to be tracking Branthwaite.
PSV sporting director and former Everton chief, Marcel Brands, brought him to Goodison Park from Carlisle United in January 2020. He has scored once in 13 senior appearances for the Toffees since then.
Seems implausible
He is also a homegrown player, which goes a long way in helping teams plan their squad make-up. Liverpool currently have Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as their options in defence.
Van Dijk and Matip, however, are in their 30s and cannot keep playing at the top level forever. Hence, it isn’t a bad idea to start planning for the future ahead.
But there are several red flags that are raised about such a deal. Firstly, it would be a shock if Everton let one of their most talented youth prospects join Liverpool in a direct transfer.
Their fans would hate it. Abel Xavier was the last player to make a direct transfer between the two teams, doing so in 2002 when he joined the Reds from Goodison Park.
More Liverpool News:
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- Borussia Dortmund are ready to make Jude Bellingham the highest-paid player in the club’s history to fend off interest from Liverpool
Secondly, only time will tell if Branthwaite will want to swap teams where he may not get regular playing time right now. He seems to be a regular at PSV and would certainly hope to be a big part of Everton’s first-team set-up on his return this summer.
