Reported Liverpool target Jarrad Branthwaite has admitted that he’s aware of growing interest in his performances for PSV Eindhoven.
Branthwaite is having an excellent season in the Netherlands whilst on-loan from Everton. This has led to suggestions of interest from the likes of city rivals Liverpool.
And sitting down to speak to The Mirror today, it was put to Branthwaite that he’s attracting admiring glances from several big sides.
“I think when all of those clubs are interested and watching your games, it’s gonna be one of them where you take notice,” said the 21-year-old.
“But for me it’s just about playing the games. The first half of the season, I wasn’t playing as many as I wanted, but now I’m just fully focussed on doing that and performing the best I can.”
Liverpool scouting Branthwaite
Liverpool’s reported interest in an Everton player came as a little bit of a surprise. But having supposedly been sending scouts to watch Branthwaite at PSV, the Reds do seem to have the centre-back on their radar.
Whether or not the Toffees will do business with them is another matter entirely. Having shipped Branthwaite off to PSV as basically a reserve player, they may not have expected such a situation to arise.
But it has, and they now find themselves in a pretty enviable position. With a potential rising star on their books, Sean Dyche looks to have a ready-made high quality option to slot in next season.
It isn’t a given that Everton will be in the Premier League next season, though. There have been claims that should they lose their top-flight status, they would be willing to cash-in on Branthwaite while his stock is high.
A £15m fee has been mooted, but if the youngster continues to impress, maybe Everton could ask for even more.
Whatever the asking price, you feel as though Dyche would rather sell to anyone over Liverpool. Interest has reportedly come in for Branthwaite from the likes of Roma as well as the Reds. If he keeps it up, maybe he’ll become aware of a few others tracking him, too.