Overview
- Reports on Thursday say Liverpool scouts have been watching Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite closely as they assess left-sided options to succeed Virgil van Dijk.
- The coverage cites former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown as the main named source describing Liverpool's monitoring rather than any club confirmation or formal bid.
- Everton hold a strong negotiating position because Branthwaite is under contract until 2030 and has been given a large valuation that has been described in reporting as a 'huge' price.
- Clubs are treating Branthwaite as a season-long due-diligence target because his return to form and England recall have raised interest while past hamstring problems make durability a key concern.
- A direct move to Liverpool would carry extra complications because of the Merseyside rivalry and the fact Liverpool have not signed a player straight from Everton since 2002, so any approach would likely wait until a future transfer window.