Liverpool Plot Move For £70m-Rated Everton Player: Why Should The Toffees Resist?

Liverpool Plot Move For £70m-Rated Everton Player: Why Should The Toffees Resist? Liverpool are stepping up work on a possible move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite next summer, according to Football Insider . Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told the outlet that Liverpool have been watching the 24-year-old closely as they consider options for the next phase of their centre-back group. The report says Liverpool want a long-term successor for Virgil van Dijk, whose current contract runs until 2027. Branthwaite has emerged as a candidate because his return to strong form under David Moyes has restored his profile after his injury problems. He has started every Premier League match Everton have played so far this season, without missing a minute, giving scouts a regular view of his level. Football Insider says Liverpool are assessing more than his displays, with his character and training habits part of their checks. Everton have clear reasons to resist any approach. Branthwaite signed a new deal in July 2025 that keeps him at the club until June 2030, and Everton have placed a huge valuation on him. Manchester United continue to monitor him too, adding another potential bidder if Everton eventually consider a sale. Liverpool face another obstacle because Branthwaite would cross the Merseyside divide. Abel Xavier remains the last player to move directly from Everton to Liverpool, doing so in 2002. Any approach would carry pressure far beyond a standard transfer. Everton and Jarrad Branthwaite: Should the club hold firm? LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 12: Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton appears dejected during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Yes. Everton should resist Liverpool, and the reasons go beyond rivalry. Branthwaite’s 2030 contract gives the club time and leverage, so there is little reason to accept a quick compromise on the fee. His run under Moyes strengthens that position because Everton can judge his value from first-team football rather than potential alone. His numbers have made the early season even more encouraging. Branthwaite has started all five league games and played every minute, while Everton have kept three clean sheets in those matches. The Englishman has helped form a defence that has conceded only three league goals. Those figures support the impression that he has regained consistency. The tactical case matters too. Moyes has built a disciplined side that ask their centre-backs to defend their box, compete in the air and protect narrow leads. Branthwaite suits that approach because his physique, positioning and left-footed distribution give Everton balance at the back. Losing him would force the club to replace a player who has become central to the structure. Then there is the emotional cost. Liverpool have not signed directly from Everton since 2002, and sending Branthwaite across Stanley Park would carry an obvious reaction from supporters. Everton should keep their public stance firm and demand a huge valuation. If a sale becomes necessary later, the board could consider offers from Manchester United or clubs outside the region. That route would give Everton more control over the footballing and financial consequences of any eventual sale. For now, keeping Branthwaite through the 2030 contract makes more sense than helping Liverpool solve their post-Van Dijk succession problem.