Jarrad Branthwaite transfer latest as Liverpool could face £80m decision after Everton response

It's fair to say there has been a mystified reaction across Merseyside football after odds were slashed dramatically on Jarrad Branthwaite joining Liverpool on Sunday evening. The Everton defender saw himself become odds-on to make the move across Stanley Park before the end of the transfer window this month by a handful of bookmakers, which unsurprisingly set tongues wagging as a result.

On Sunday, social media became awash with speculation after it was noted that Sky Bet had curiously cut the odds on Branthwaite to leave Goodison Park before the transfer window closed and was being priced at 2/1 to make what would be a stunning and shocking switch to the Blues' city rivals.

The last player to be directly traded to Liverpool from Everton was Abel Xavier, back in 2002 and he is one of just two to have made the move this century, the other being Nick Barmby two years earlier. That £5.75m deal was the source of a lot more controversy than the transfer that took then Portugal international Xavier to Anfield at the time, it should be stressed.

But the prospect of Branthwaite, one of Everton's star men, leaving for Liverpool - even for a huge fee - would be a major bone of contention for supporters on the other side of Stanley Park and the ECHO reported on its Everton pages on Monday that the Blues have had no contact from their local rivals.

It's understood that those close to the player are also baffled at the movement in the betting odds and there has been a suggestion that the eyebrow-raising developments could be the work of mischief-making bookmakers who are keen to stoke up interest as the transfer window enters its final days. The deadline is on August 30.

Lee Astley, spokesperson for betideas.com, said: “It seemed that Jarrad Branthwaite was a Manchester United player in the making for most of this summer’s transfer window, but some big developments in the past week have seen Liverpool installed as the new favourites to land the Everton man.

“Arne Slot’s public criticism of Jarell Quansah following their win against Ipswich means the Reds may turn to a new defender in the dying embers of the summer window, and they are now even-money to sign the Englishman between now and September, with United out to 4/1.”

Framing Slot's tactical decision of subbing Quansah at half time for Ibrahima Konate in Saturday's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town as "public criticism" is perhaps overegging things, however, and there is a firm belief within the club that they have a young defender of their own whose career with England will be a long one in the coming years.

Liverpool are yet to add to their ranks this summer and are the only club yet to do so in the Premier League but any move for Branthwaite would likely have to be in the ballpark of a club-record fee given the added premium Everton would no doubt demand for such a controversial deal.

The Blues have privately referenced three transfers elsewhere in the Premier League for their own valuation of Branthwaite, with the Toffees believing the 22-year-old defender to be in the same bracket as Wesley Fofana, Harry Maguire and Josko Gvardiol, who all moved Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively, for fees ranging between £70m and £80m.

A similar figure for the Reds would see Branthwaite come alongside Darwin Nunez and Virgil van Dijk as three of the biggest-ever transfers conducted by Liverpool, although there is little doubt he has a profile that appeals hugely in more general terms as a 22-year-old centre-back on the cusp of the England setup with ample Premier League experience behind him already.

Liverpool were one of a handful of top-flight clubs reportedly tracking Branthwaite in his days as a teenager with Carlisle United, prior to the move to Goodison in January 2020. Since then the centre-half has established himself as one of the most composed young defenders in the top flight.

Last month, Everton rejected a second bid for Branthwaite from Manchester United at £45m plus add-ons, which came a month after an offer of £35m was dismissed as derisory. The Red Devils have since added Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt to their ranks and appear to have decisively moved on.

The future of Joe Gomez remains the source of intrigue at Anfield after the versatile defender was left out of the opening matchday squad of the season at Ipswich. Gomez, who is the club's longest-serving player at nine years, is now considering his options and could be the subject of more formalised interest before the transfer window closes.

A sale of the 27-year-old, who was the subject of negotiations with Newcastle United in late June as the Magpies floated the idea of Anthony Gordon moving in the opposite direction, would surely require Liverpool to dip into the market for a replacement to avoid leaving Slot with a weaker squad than the one he inherited at the start of June.

Whether a departure of Gomez could lead to genuine interest in Branthwaite remains to be seen and it is also unclear at this stage if there is any real appetite at Liverpool to push ahead with what would undoubtedly be a costly and shocking move. That's even before Branthwaite's willingness to burn his Blue bridges is even taken into account.

As supposed transfer targets go for Liverpool, there are fewer hoops to jump through at Crufts.