Everton response to claims over Jarrad Branthwaite making controversial Liverpool transfer

Everton have been left in the dark over suggestions that Liverpool are plotting a controversial transfer move for their star man Jarrad Branthwaite.

Bookmakers’ odds over Branthwaite joining Liverpool have been slashed but both club insiders and those close to the England international’s camp have been left bemused by the developments, claim to be unaware where such speculation has come from, and the ECHO understands there has been zero contact from Liverpool with Everton on the matter at this point.

Everton have rejected two bids for Branthwaite from Manchester United this summer, the first of £35million plus add ons in June and then £45million plus add ons in July. The Red Devils subsequently snapped up other centre-back targets Leny Yoro from Lille in a deal worth up to £58.9million and then Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich for £38.5million with a potential £4.3million in add ons.

Given the £80million fee that Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019, the £75million Chelsea paid for Wesley Fofana in 2022 and the £77million Manchester City paid for Josko Gvardiol in 2023, Everton consider Branthwaite to be in the same bracket, especially given the premium for both left-footed defenders and homegrown talent.

Everton have insisted that they would not be bullied into selling the England international on the cheap with claims of a Goodison Park ‘fire sale’ this summer wide of the mark and have been actively planning for him to be with them this season, unless a mega offer comes in.

The optics of rebuffing two offers from Manchester United only to sell to their local rivals would not be a good look for Blues chiefs in the final fortnight of the transfer window and no player has directly crossed Stanley Park since Abel Xavier left Everton for Liverpool in an £800,000 deal on January 30, 2002 – six months before 22-year-old Branthwaite was even born.

On Sunday, supporters noticed Sky Bet had curiously slashed the odds on Branthwaite to leave Goodison Park before the transfer window closed. And he is priced at 2/1 to make a shock summer move to city rivals Liverpool.

United are 3/1 to sign the defender, while Manchester City (4/1) and Real Madrid (12/1) are other destinations that Sky have priced up for the England international.

Despite that, no credible reports had linked Branthwaite with a move to Anfield. Betting odds are often shortened when a high volume of bets are placed to make the market less profitable.