Liverpool should break the bank to sign rival - and not just for the FUME

Liverpool should move heaven and earth to sign one of their rivals' most valuable players. The deal is possible and entirely worth it.

Liverpool have a lot to think about this summer as they attempt to rebuild for Arne Slot. That's something they didn't do ahead of his debut campaign, instead handing him Jurgen Klopp's squad without any serious additions.

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Of course, he's set to win the Premier League with it anyway.

But the Dutchman has certainly earned the right to his 'own' squad. One built for his playing style with players he trusts.

That's a lot of work, though. Especially as plenty of decisions are actually forced on Liverpool this summer.

One problem area is at centre-back, where the future couldn't really look less certain. Virgil van Dijk is the headline there - his contract expires at the end of June.

Ibrahima Konate, though, is another concern as he enters the final year of his own contract this summer. There's interest from Paris Saint-Germain, as Anfield Watch revealed, as well as Real Madrid.

Joe Gomez is an uncertainty after Liverpool nearly sent him to Newcastle United last year. There will be interest in him this summer and the Reds may yet sell.

Jarell Quansah, rounding off Liverpool's four first-team centre-backs, is a wanted man. Newcastle would like to bring him in, reportedly readying around £30m to do so.

Centre-back, then, is an area where Liverpool must do business this summer. And there's one target that may stand tall over the rest.

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Jarrard Branthwaite is a must

Liverpool reportedly want to sign Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. Yes, we hear you - that's almost impossible.

Things didn't go so well the last time Liverpool tried to sign Everton's big-name star. There's little reason to believe they'd fare any better this time.

But at the same time, Branthwaite apparently fancies a move this summer. It's pretty simple to understand why - he was recently left out of the England setup and it's difficult to believe that would have happened if he were at a 'bigger' club.

Quansah, after all, did get in.

We say Liverpool should use that to start an all-timer charm offensive on the defender. Get him convinced that Anfield is the ultimate destination to move his career up a level and perhaps this could happen.

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Of course, Everton would need financial compensation to make it happen - so give them an absolute fortune. Convince the lot of them that this deal is for everyone.

Because there are few signings better Branthwaite at centre-back. Now, the absolute fume it would cause at Everton is a fantastic reason to push forward but this would be far more than that.

Branthwaite is, after all, one of the best young defenders in the Premier League. He's still only 22 but carries plenty of experience as a proven top-flight player.

He's comfortable enough on the ball, knows how to defend and importantly, he's homegrown. That's something that Liverpool must consider with all their transfers given the plethora of homegrown talents linked with exits this summer.

We're pretty convinced, too, that his stats can take a leap at Liverpool. Branthwaite is a difficult player to judge through the data given Everton's playing style but things like 92% pass completion over medium range suggests there's a player there who could adapt at Liverpool.

There's one other slight hint that Branthwaite is a player who can kick on under a different style - he rarely fouls. The 22-year-old averages under a foul every three games - for comparison, Everton's other centre-backs (Michael Keane and James Tarkowski) foul three times as much.

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It's the trait of a smart player and one Liverpool could really work with. Yes, he'd cost a fortune but the positives here - and the Reds' need for a centre-back - make Branthwaite a player worth pushing for.