Anthony Gordon and the players tipped to join Liverpool before transfer deadline

The final week or so of any transfer window usually brings up some surprising rumours and this one is no different with Liverpool linked with a move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

On Sunday night bookmakers including Sky Bet and bet365 released updates saying they were slashing their odds for the 22-year-old to make a highly controversial move across Stanley Park - with the latter saying they have him odds-on at 4/5 to be donning a Reds shirt when the transfer window slams shut.

Realistically, the rumours do not make any sense. A reported £80m price-tag is one thing, not to mention Everton would be extremely reluctant to even entertain the idea of selling their prized asset to their Merseyside rivals.

Whilst this transfer rumour has no legs, bookmakers are still tipping Liverpool to be active before the summer transfer window closes.

READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano makes Liverpool revelation ahead of transfer deadline day

The players tipped to join Liverpool before transfer deadline

At the time of publication, Sky Bet have the Reds at 5/6 favourites to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, and 5/1 to lure Ollie Watkins away from Aston Villa.

Two rather interesting links but a pair of deals that perhaps hinge on potential outgoings as Liverpool have plenty of strength in depth across the forward line in Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz.

In addition, the Merseyside giants are third favourites at 20/1 to bring in Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, fourth favourites at 9/1 and 20/1 to sign Victor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze respectively and 25/1 to win the race for Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.

It remains to be seen what business gets done at Anfield, but Arne Slot has revealed work is being done behind the scenes to strengthen the squad.

"It’s not always true that if you bring in new players the team becomes stronger, because I also believe in general that every player in the team needs to have perspective on playing time," he said ahead of his side's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

"If you keep bringing players in, sometimes the energy in the group goes down as well. But like I said many times, we – and with ‘we’ I mean Richard and me – are trying to strengthen the squad. If we think we’ve found someone, we try to bring him in.

"And then unfortunately the one we thought could help us said no. But [in] the background Richard is still trying to improve the team."