In the January transfer window, Liverpool may add another center-back, and former attacker John Aldridge thinks Jurgen Klopp should focus on Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, has been urged by John Aldridge to recruit Everton center-back Jarrad Branthwaite.
Although he lost in questionable circumstances, the 21-year-old made an impression for Sean Dyche’s team in the Merseyside derby on Saturday. At Anfield, Mohamed Salah scored twice in the dying minutes to defeat the Toffees with 10 men, although Everton insisted Ibrahima Konate should have been sent out for a late challenge on Beto. After Ashley Young was dismissed for a related offence, this occurred.
Everton can take a lot of positives from the game despite playing with one fewer player for more than a half of the game. Branthwaite, one of them, gave the Toffees a confident performance. After sitting out the first two games, the defender, who spent last season on loan at PSV, has established himself in the starting lineup.
Aldridge, a former Reds striker, now thinks Klopp should make an effort to sign the gifted England Under 21 international. Branthwaite would be the first player to transfer from Everton to Liverpool since Abel Xavier done so in January 2002 if he decided to make the move across Stanley Park.
He remarked in an interview with the Liverpool Echo: “I don’t want to offend any Evertonians by saying this, and whether Liverpool would buy from Everton is another matter since it seldom happens, but I absolutely think he has got the talent to go on and become a leading figure and a starter for England.
“It was intriguing to see that Jurgen Klopp even praised him prior to the game in his pre-game press conference. Although Manchester United has previously been touted as a potential destination, he is sure to be on the radar of other teams as well, so what Everton decides to do with him is up to them.
“Branthwaite recently extended his agreement with Everton. I’m looking at the Everton team, and those are the kinds of players your club needs to hold onto if you want to advance. Only time will tell if Everton will be able to accomplish that.
“We were on the lookout for a left-sided center-back during the summer transfer window, but we weren’t successful in finding one. Branthwaite would definitely cost us a lot if we made a play for him because of the English premium we frequently see in the game.
“Coming to Liverpool would be difficult for the young man; it requires some effort to traverse Stanley Park. I’ll say it again: I don’t want to offend anyone, but I believe he has a very promising future.”
In the Anfield tunnel following the game, Branthwaite was seen conversing with former PSV teammate Cody Gakpo and hugging England teammate Harvey Elliott. Last season, the centre back from Carlisle made 36 appearances while on loan at PSV, where he assisted them in winning the KNVB Cup.