Liverpool Are Set To Rival Manchester United For This Everton Defender: Good Choice For Slot? | OneFootball

In a recent report, The Daily Star stated that Liverpool are set to rival Manchester United for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. It has been claimed that the Reds are showing interest in recruiting the English talent next year.

Branthwaite’s Impressive Form At Merseyside

Branthwaite served as a decent squad player for the Toffees in the previous campaign when he put in a handful of solid displays for them on the defensive end of the field. The 23-year-old has made 32 appearances for Everton last season, securing one assist on all fronts.

The English defensive ace was a decent performer inside his half and deserves some credit for making 36 tackles, 31 blocks and 27 interceptions in the Premier League. He even distributed the ball relatively well after completing 82.1% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via fbref.com).

His current contract at the Merseyside club will run out in the summer of 2030, which could make it tough for the Reds to sign him on a cut-price deal next year.

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND – JULY 19: Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton in action during the pre-season friendly match between Blackburn Rovers and Everton at Ewood Park on July 19, 2025 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Will Branthwaite Be A Good Choice For Liverpool?

Branthwaite is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the front foot.

The English talent can use his strong 1.95m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. Branthwaite is primarily a central defender but can also fill in as a right-back if asked to do so by his manager. He is quite familiar with the Premier League and won’t take much time to settle into life at Liverpool.

We can expect Branthwaite to bring more quality and depth to Arne Slot’s defence. He is good enough to serve as a useful rotational piece in the Merseyside club’s squad in the coming years.

At 23, the future looks quite bright for Branthwaite as long as he continues to improve with each year. The English talent could even help Liverpool compete across all competitions in the future. Thus, he would be a great choice for the Reds to consider this January or at the end of this campaign, but only if Slot can get him for a reasonable fee.