Liverpool would have to pay over the odds to sign Jarrad Branthwaite

October 9, 2024Ligue 1

Liverpool manager Arne Slot. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Journalist Ben Jacobs has told GiveMeSport that reports of Liverpool’s interest in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite are premature.

The Reds have been linked with a move for Everton centre-back recently amid concerns over the future of defender Virgil Van Dijk.

The Dutch centre-back has entered the final year of his contract at the club and with no guarantee over his long term future at Anfield, Arne Slot’s team have been linked with a move for the England international.

Branthwaite has attracted interest from Manchester United as well, with the Red Devils seeing two of their bids get rejected for him in the summer transfer window.

Everton stopped the defender from leaving the club this summer after Man United failed to match their asking price.

Suggestions have been made about Liverpool targeting a controversial move for the Everton defender but Jacobs has cooled down any such reports, saying that Liverpool are yet to make an approach for the player.

He told GiveMeSport:

“Suggestions that Liverpool will be the club in 2025 to enter the race, rather than Manchester United returning, are premature, according to my understanding at the moment. Liverpool haven’t made any kind of meaningful approach yet to Everton for Branthwaite.

“If you look at how Liverpool do business, how they come to a valuation – and how they often walk away when there is no value to be had – Branthwaite, on paper, doesn’t feel like a very Liverpool deal. They would have to significantly overpay on his market valuation.”

Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton is linked with a move to Liverpool (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)