After Manchester United withdrew, Liverpool has stepped in with a £70 million bid to lure Jarrad Branthwaite away from Everton. According to SunSport, Liverpool is prepared to offer Everton £63 million upfront, plus an additional £7 million in add-ons, to secure Branthwaite’s services.
Previously, Branthwaite was a top target for United, but the Red Devils have shifted their focus to signing Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt to strengthen their defense. The 22-year-old center-back is open to leaving Goodison Park for a more ambitious and high-profile club.
Branthwaite’s contract with Everton runs until 2027, with a weekly wage of £60,000. He understands that a move to Anfield could triple his earnings to £180,000 per week.
Liverpool is increasingly confident about reaching an agreement for Branthwaite. New manager Arne Slot views the young English defender as a perfect future replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
Historically, Everton and Liverpool are fierce city rivals, and the last time Everton sold a player to Liverpool was Abel Xavier for £800,000 back in 2002.
However, Everton is currently facing financial difficulties. Manager Sean Dyche recently admitted he would be open to selling any player if a reasonable offer came in.
Earlier this summer, Manchester United made two unsuccessful attempts to acquire Branthwaite, with their highest bid being £50 million.
Liverpool, on the other hand, recently sold young defender Sepp van den Berg to Brentford for £30 million. Additionally, Joe Gomez may be on his way to Newcastle in the coming days.
