A shocking claim has emerged from the Netherlands as Jarrad Branthwaite has been suggested as a target for Liverpool.
Everton‘s rise up the Premier League table this season following their points. deduction has come thanks in the main to their excellent defence.
Three consecutive clean sheets in the last few weeks has seen Sean Dyche‘s side shoot right up the league and now sit just a win or two away from being back in the mid-table fight.
In this strong defensive form, Jarrad Branthwaite has been vital, establishing himself among the best young centre-halves in the league.
His teammate and centre-back partner James Tarkowski has also been great but has been in awe of Branthwaite lately.
But now, some grim reading for Everton fans as Liverpool have been urged to make the 21-year-old defender their Virgil van Djik successor.
Liverpool now urged to sign Jarrad Branthwaite
This stunning claim comes from the Netherlands where Voetbal international journalist Suleyman Ozturk has named Branthwaite as Liverpool’s perfect Van Djik replacement.
He explained: “If I were Liverpool, I would buy him as a successor to Van Dijk. I really think he is the revelation of this season at Everton in the Premier League.
“He’s already a leader in a defence at a club in big trouble. The fact that at 21 you play in the starting lineup in a Sean Dyche team is not easy.”
This is quite a ridiculous and frankly shocking statement given the relationship between the two clubs. This would see Branthwaite instantly become public enemy number one at Goodison Park, a move we don’t see him wanting to take given his relationship with Everton.
But it is nonetheless bound to concern Toffees fans but is there a valid reason to be worried?
Could Liverpool really sign Branthwaite?
The answer is pretty simple, in our view there is little chance of this move ever moving beyond a journalist’s suggestion.
It simply wouldn’t make sense for Branthwaite, nor would Everton ever allow that move to happen with there no doubt being several other sides who would match any Liverpool offer.
But looking at this comment from the other way, really it’s nothing more than a massive compliment for Branthwaite. To be compared to a player like Van Djik is never a bad thing.
Hopefully, Branthwaite can continue to improve and end up at the same level as Van Djik was.
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