United and Liverpool in battle for £65m premier league star

Man Utd and Liverpool in £65m Battle for Jarrad Branthwaite

Manchester United and Liverpool are once again set for a transfer standoff — this time for Everton’s highly rated centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. At just 23 years old, the defender has already attracted widespread admiration, and his long-term contract at Goodison Park highlights how highly Everton value him.

United’s Need for Defensive Reinforcement
According to The Mirror, “the centre-back is a long-time target of the Old Trafford top brass, who tried to sign him from the blue half of Merseyside before.” With Harry Maguire’s contract running down and his age catching up, United are preparing to reshape their backline. As noted, “United boss Ruben Amorim is planning for life without Maguire next season, while he also has doubts about the long-term fitness of injury prone defender Lisandro Martinez.”

That leaves Branthwaite as United’s No.1 choice. The report states that “United may test the water with a £65m bid in the January transfer window,” a move that could give them an advantage in what promises to be one of the winter’s biggest transfer stories.

Liverpool’s Interest
Liverpool, meanwhile, are no strangers to battling their rivals for big names. The Mirror suggests “Liverpool are also very keen on the 23 year-old.” With Arne Slot’s squad undergoing gradual defensive transition, Branthwaite’s profile — left-footed, composed on the ball, and defensively robust — makes him a tempting option.