Everton respond as Liverpool include Jarrad Branthwaite on two-man wishlist

Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

Liverpool are the latest club to be credited with an interest in Jarrad Branthwaite but Everton have made a move to try and lock the England defender down with a new deal
Everton have opened talks with Jarrad Branthwaite over a potential contract extension amid fresh transfer interest in the defender, whose suitors now include Liverpool.
Branthwaite, 22, has established himself as one of the Premier League 's top young defenders and was the subject of a £50million bid from Manchester United last summer. And after another stellar season for the Toffees, Branthwaite is once again attracting interest.
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It emerged earlier this week that Tottenham have set their sights on the former Carlisle United man as they seek to refresh their squad under Thomas Frank.
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And they are not alone in courting Branthwaite with Liverpool - Everton's bitter rivals - also among the talented defender's suitors.
Everton, though, have no interest in cashing in on Branthwaite this summer and have already started to speak with the player's representatives in a bid to lock him down with a new contract.
The Echo report that retaining Branthwaite's services for the 25-26 campaign is a priority for Everton, who finished last season with a flourish following the return of David Moyes.
The Scot is determined to 'build his defence' around Branthwaite, who still has two years left to run on his current deal. But interest from elsewhere in the Premier League could complicate matters for Everton.
While Liverpool are admirers of Branthwaite, it seems they are poised to step up their interest Marc Guehi, the Crystal Palace defender who was also courted heavily by top clubs last summer.
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The 24-year-old England star was the subject of two failed transfer bids from Newcastle 12 months ago but is now in the final year of his deal, meaning Palace's bargaining power is not as strong as it once was.
Guehi has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Jarell Quansah, who is in talks over a move to Bayer Leverkusen. A deal - which would be separate to the agreement which will see Florian Wirtz become a Liverpool player this weekend - could happen with the Bundesliga outfit ready to pay around £34m.
The Reds are also closing in on a deal for Milos Kerkez, who would join from Bournemouth, while they are also said to be on the lookout for a new striker with Darwin Nunez expected to move on in the transfer window.