20 February 2024 , 10:20
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Jamie Carragher has heaped praise on Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite - with admirers Manchester United weighing up a sizeable summer transfer swoop.
Branthwaite, 21, is enjoying a true breakout season with the Toffees, having impressed on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season, working under ex-United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. Now the England youth international is believed to be on the Red Devils' six-man transfer shortlist, with top-four rivals Tottenham and European giants Real Madrid also interested.
His stock will be boosted thanks to a glowing appraisal from Carragher, who knows a thing or two about being a top-level centre-back. Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football ahead of Everton's battling 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace, the former Liverpool defender hailed Brainthwaite as "special."
"I think he is," Carragher reiterated. "And what is really special as well is the amount of centre-backs we have in the Premier League aged 21 or younger.
"I remember being a young lad going in myself at Liverpool and it's an unforgiven position, I had to go to full-back for the next three or four years and then go back to centre-back, so you can see the quality we have.
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"Branthwaite has been outstanding, Murillo [of Nottingham Forest] I think has been outstanding. But I think this lad [Branthwaite] has been pretty special and he's a big part of why, in my eyes, Everton still have a great chance of staying up; him and his partnership with [James] Tarkowski."
Although Branthwaite was unable to keep a clean sheet against Palace on Monday, the 21-year-old has been part of one of the Premier League's most watertight defences this season. Only title-chasing Arsenal have racked up more clean sheets than the Toffees, and Sean Dyche's men would be 12th in the league table if it wasn't for their 10-point deduction.
Your turn! How much should Manchester United pay for Jarrad Branthwaite? Let us know in the comments section.
Everton will reportedly demand £75million for Jarrad Branthwaite (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Everton's punishment, which they've appealed, comes from their well-documented financial issues. But the sale of Branthwaite could go a long way in securing their long-term sustainability, especially if United cough up the Tofffees' rumoured £75million asking price.
The Red Devils' interest has been strengthened amid the arrival of incoming part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who wants to focus on signing homegrown talent in order to build a British core at Old Trafford. Having come through the ranks with boyhood club Carlisle United before moving to Merseyside in January 2020 aged just 17, the towering, two-footed defender ticks plenty of boxes.
Carlisle have already confirmed that they'd be due to receive a windfall should Everton sell Branthwaite, who hopes to be part of Gareth Southgate's England squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany this summer. A first senior England call-up for the Three Lions' two friendlies against Brazil and Belgium at Wembley next month is certainly on the cards.