Report: Man United now fear that Liverpool could beat them to £70m Premier League player in January

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Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League, with Liverpool linked with the 22-year-old centre-back.

Liverpool have kept tabs on Branthwaite for some time with Manchester United also interested in signing the England international, who this summer was close to leaving Goodison Park before Everton sold Amadou Onana to Aston Villa.

With Liverpool in the market for a new defender, raiding their Merseyside rivals for Branthwaite would be a controversial yet effective ploy from the Reds given just how good the £70m-rated youngster is and how well the centre-back would suit Arne Slot’s system.

And Liverpool’s interest in Branthwaite could be more intense than first imagined.

Liverpool could make ambitious move for Branthwaite in January

According to the Daily Mail, there is a feasible chance that Liverpool make a move for Branthwaite in the January transfer window, with the Reds potentially looking at hijacking United’s long-term plan to sign the Everton defender.

With the Toffees unwilling to award Branthwaite a new bumper contract even after their pending takeover, there is an opportunity in the market for Liverpool to pull off something quite sensational regarding the former Carlisle United defender.

Indeed, Liverpool need a new defender in 2025 and one on the younger side of the age spectrum, something Branthwaite perfectly fits into given how young the centre-back is and how experienced he already is in the Premier League.

And with the Reds now seemingly weighing up a January move for Branthwaite, there’s every chance that Slot’s side could launch one of their most ambitious transfer attempts in some years with the Everton defender, who could be up for a move to Anfield.

Liverpool have to make Branthwaite their top defensive target for 2025

With Virgil van Dijk’s future up in the air and Slot not fully convinced by Jarell Quansah, a new centre-back has to be at the top of Liverpool’s transfer priorities for 2025, alongside another central midfielder.

And in Branthwaite, Liverpool could already have the dream target in mind, even if convincing Everton to sell could be a battle that takes some time to come to a satisfying conclusion for the Anfield side.

The 22-year-old looks like a natural in the Premier League and is already an England international, and at Liverpool, Branthwaite could be the perfect long-term successor for the likes of Van Dijk as well as another option at the back that Slot can put his trust into.