Liverpool now know that they will be moving ahead in the summer transfer window with Arne Slot as manager.
The Reds have been preparing for life without Jurgen Klopp for some months now, but have only just learned the identity of his successor.
Things with Slot and Feyenoord were agreed on Friday night, with an official announcement reportedly set to follow hopefully by Monday.
And with the season now just weeks away from ending, talk will turn to who Slot could sign in the transfer market. As Jamie Carragher reiterated after Wednesday’s loss against Everton, Liverpool could do with a new centre-back as a priority.
Since then, reports have emerged that the Reds are looking into signing Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho. But speaking exclusively to Rousing The Kop, journalist Graeme Bailey has suggested another centre-back who Liverpool might like the look of.
Liverpool put off by Jarrad Branthwaite price-tag
One of the key protagonists of Everton’s midweek win over Liverpool was Jarrad Branthwaite.
The defender has been having an excellent season at Goodison Park, leading to a call-up to the full England team.
Branthwaite quality was not a secret prior to his year, though. Liverpool had reportedly been keen on signing him after seeing his excellent spell at PSV Eindhoven last year.
And according to Bailey, the Reds would likely be looking at the left-sided defender again this year if not for his exorbitant fee.
“I think if he didn’t have the price-tag Liverpool would be in for Branthwaite,” claims the journalist. “Because he’s not a Scouser so I don’t think it quite has that same venom attached to it if they were taking him.
“If I was Liverpool I’d be looking across Stanley Park as well but I think the Premier League tax you pay on Branthwaite might rule him out of Liverpool. I don’t think they’re going to spend £70-£80m on a central defender.”
Should Liverpool try and sign Branthwaite
As Branthwaite showed with his celebrations on Wednesday, he may not be a Scouser, but he’s Everton now.
Although that may not mean all that much through the prism of loyalty in modern day football, we think it’ll be enough to put Liverpool off here.
As Bailey says, had the price-tag been a little more palatable, maybe they could be tempted to have a go. But if Everton are trying to get £80m for Branthwaite, then if Liverpool come in you can probably add another £20m at least to that.
Even if the 21-year-old wanted the move, there’s no one in the world Everton would rather sell to less.
If he were playing for any other club outside of the Premier League top six, then Liverpool would definitely be interested in Branthwaite. He looks like a top defender in waiting. But from Everton, no, this is surely a non-starter.
