Van Nistelrooy has dropped Branthwaite hint amid Liverpool HIJACK claims

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 2 Oct 2024 08:20 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United have been told that they face losing out on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, with claims that Liverpool could raid their Stanley Park neighbours for the England defender.

Man Utd spent much of the summer chasing Branthwaite but were put off by the £70 million asking price of the Goodison Park outfit.

The Daily Mail claims that the Reds could “feasibly move for him in January” and are willing to “offer Everton closer to what they want”.

The Liverpool Echo has played down the chances of a deal being struck, but a move to Man Utd could still materialise, with a key member of the Old Trafford coaching staff a major fan of the 22-year-old centre-back.

Current ETV

Jarrad Branthwaite

D (C)

Everton

Jarrad Branthwaite

D (C)

Everton

€33.1M

ETV Range

€24.9M - €41.4M

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Van Nistelrooy praises Branthwaite

Ruud van Nistelrooy previously coach Branthwaite during a loan spell in the Eredivisie and was won over by the promising star during that stint.

“He is a great talent. The boy is 20, but he has a future,” Erik ten Hag’s assistant boss said in February 2023.

“He is good on the ball, can play on the left or the right of centre-back because he is two-footed. He has height and speed, so he is very complete.”

Van Nistelrooy’s comments are particularly interesting given that there appears to be every chance that he will become Manchester United manager before the start of the January transfer window.

Ten Hag finds himself under pressure after another poor start to the season, and as revealed by FootballTransfers, Van Nistelrooy is being groomed to become his successor.

The respect between Branthwaite and the legendary forward, meanwhile, is mutual.

“He was brilliant for me," the Wigton native said last year.

"He would speak to me about my body shape when defending and the importance of being side on, so that I am always ready to run back or be ready to press forward.

“He said if you don’t have the right body shape, you will get done because the Premier League is much faster. If they play it in behind and you are not side on, the striker will already be gone.”

Everton, then, should brace themselves for a renewed assault from Man Utd for Branthwaite, who has made only one appearance this season for the first team due to a groin injury.