How Everton are feeling about their £75m Liverpool target

Liverpool have been quiet in the transfer market over the last three windows and fans are increasingly frustrated by the lack of business.

Of course, the team has performed admirably despite the limited recruitment effort, challenging for the league last season while winning a Carabao Cup and challenging for the Champions League and the Premier League this season, while getting to another League Cup final.

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But several cracks are beginning to appear in the team and eventually, something will have to budge, either FSG will need to open the purse strings to keep the team topped up, or performance levels will begin to take a dip.

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A summer overhaul is on the way at Anfield, as exclusively revealed by Anfield Watch, and there is also the ongoing contract sagas of Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk that could lead to further departures.

As such, the club's transfer shopping list will be littered with players that fans both need and want to see on Merseyside and some big money moves could be made, although one transfer link, in particular, is proving a little harder to secure than once thought.

Everton committed to building team around Branthwaite

Over on the blue side of Merseyside, Everton have an extraordinarily talented 22-year-old centre-back in Jarrad Branthwaite, who is on everyone's radar for a big move in the summer.

The young England international is a known talent and Liverpool need new centre-back recruits in the wake of Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate's potential departures owing to an expiring contract and interest from Paris Saint Germain.

As such, he is on the club's radar and given he is already based in Liverpool, a move to the city's other club would be logistically ideal, although it would prove to be incredibly controversial with the locals.

According to a report from Give Me Sport, Everton are increasingly confident that they can keep Branthwaite next season, despite interest from Liverpool and Manchester United.

Branthwaite's hefty £75m price tag makes a deal even more complicated, with many clubs unable to justify such a large outlay on a defender.

Liverpool are potentially looking to sell Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez this summer, and having spent just £12.5m over the last three transfer windows, there has surely got to be money available to spend to bring some new faces to Anfield.

In addition, the youngster is sitting on a measly wage of £35,000 a week, which seems pitiful for a player who could be one of the cornerstones of English football going forward.

If Liverpool find themselves with money to burn, then they may well approach Everton and offer them a sum they cannot ignore for Branthwaite, and the Reds could offer the 22-year-old a substantial upgrade on his pay packet too.

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Of course, a lot of things need to fall into place for Liverpool to feel comfortable making such a move, but unless the club's neighbours tie him down to a new contract on more reasonable terms, then expect the Reds could pounce when the transfer window reopens.

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Liverpool's next game and how to watch live

Liverpool’s game against Wolves will kick-off at 14:00 GMT on Sunday 16th February.

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event and Ultra HD.

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