“Honing In On” – Paul Gorst On Liverpool Links To Rival With ‘Loads Of Boxes Ticked’ | OneFootball

Liverpool extended their perfect record in the Champions League to two wins from two earlier this week, seeing off Bologna 2-0.

As usual, Arne Slot batted away a question on contract renewals for one of his key players, including club captain Virgil van Dijk. The 33-year-old has been in fine form so far this season, leading fans and pundits alike convinced that the club should seek to extend his stay.

One man believed to be on LFC’s radar as Van Dijk’s potential successor or future partner is Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. Bookmakers have slashed the odds on Branthwaite making a shock move across Stanley Park after the Blues fended off summer interest from Manchester United in the 22-year-old.

On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked the Liverpool Echo’s LFC correspondent Paul Gorst for his thoughts on Branthwaite.

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Paul said:

“This would be absolutely sensational, wouldn’t it? Blockbuster – and be a real talking point for months and years.

“If he wasn’t wearing the St Rupert’s Tower on his chest, I think this would be one that Liverpool would be absolutely honing in on, and it would be screaming out to them.

“For a Manchester United, or a Chelsea, or even say a Tottenham, it’d be theoretically easier for them to get Jarrad Branthwaite out of Goodison Park than it would be for Liverpool because they’re going to fight tooth and nail to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“The fans would – I’m sure – go into a meltdown if it happened, or even came close to happening. There are loads of boxes ticked on the player himself, it’s just the fact that his employers would be absolutely loth to allow Liverpool to do the deal.

“At the moment Liverpool looks like they’re okay defensively, but certainly next summer they will be assessing that centre-back area once again, and I’d imagine Branthwaite features highly on the data analysis, shall we say?

“It’s been an issue for Everton for a number of years hasn’t it, meeting that PSR deadline at the end of June.

“How much of that PSR is still an issue next summer? Will they be in the same boat where they have to sell a star?

“Branthwaite is the one that stands out if Everton do have to sell a big player next summer.”

REDMEN REACTS

As one of the most impressive performers in the Premier League last season, Jarrad Branthwaite should be high up on the list of centre-back targets for a host of top European clubs. His age, proven track record in English football, and crucially the fact that he is a left-sided centre-half make him a potential successor to Virgil van Dijk. His club allegiance is obviously the main sticking point, as Paul is at pains to point out. Liverpool have more than likely missed the boat on being able to really test Everton’s resolve with a large bid. Had they offered a significant fee during the Toffee’s summer flirtation with yet more PSR breaches, perhaps the board would have felt their arms being twisted uncomfortably towards accepting. Now that an agreement is in place for the Blues to be sold, their deep financial woes should be easing.