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September 3, 2024
Liverpool are preparing a bold £70 million bid for a star player, signaling their ambition for the 2025 transfer window. Meanwhile, Micah Richards explains that Liverpool’s strong title prospects this season are driven by their offensive firepower and defensive solidity.
Liverpool are said to have a solid and ongoing interest in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and are targeting him as their top signing for 2025.
Following an impressive 2023-24 season with 41 appearances in all competitions, Branthwaite faced significant transfer speculation over the summer. Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid were among the top clubs rumored to be interested in him.
Ultimately, Manchester United made the strongest efforts to secure the centre-back’s move from Goodison Park. They put forward two offers for Branthwaite but could not reach a deal with Everton.
Manchester United’s top offer was approximately £50 million (€59.4m / US$65.6m), while Everton were holding out for a minimum of £70 million (€83.2m / US$91.9m).
Manchester United subsequently signed Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, while Liverpool and Real Madrid did not advance their interest with formal offers.
Branthwaite is expected to be a target again in the 2025 transfer window. On Tuesday morning, it was revealed that Crystal Palace aims to secure a new contract for Marc Guehi, another player Liverpool is interested in. This move could elevate Branthwaite to Liverpool’s top defensive priority.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool continues to admire the England star and plans to pursue him in the coming year.
Considering the intense rivalry between Liverpool and Everton, Reds sporting director Richard Hughes has initiated preliminary discussions with Branthwaite’s agent about what would be a highly charged transfer.
Branthwaite is aware of Liverpool’s interest and is receptive to the move despite its potential impact on his standing with Everton fans.
The report does not specify when Liverpool plans to bid for the player, but it is expected to occur at the end of the season.
Everton will try to retain Branthwaite during the season, as his departure would significantly weaken Sean Dyche’s defensive options. A move in the summer would at least allow them time to secure a quality replacement.
Under the Arne Slot era, Liverpool have signed just one player so far, Federico Chiesa, who joined from Juventus in a bargain deal.
This has allowed Liverpool to save substantial money, setting the stage for a blockbuster summer in 2025. By then, Hughes and Slot will clearly understand which players need replacing and which positions require strengthening.
Potential targets following Branthwaite include Anthony Gordon—despite Newcastle United’s desire to extend his contract—Johan Bakayoko, and Alan Varela.
Micah Richards asserts that Liverpool are “serious” contenders for this season’s Premier League title. The former defender points to two crucial factors—offensive strength and defensive discipline—as the reasons Liverpool is well-positioned for a title challenge.
Arne Slot’s team has quickly established themselves as a major force in the 2024/25 season. The Dutchman, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s manager this summer, has guided the team to three impressive victories in his first three league games.
Liverpool have scored seven goals and kept a clean sheet in every match so far. Their latest victory came on Sunday against Manchester United, where Slot’s formidable Reds lost 3-0 to their fierce rivals at Old Trafford.
This result puts them in second place in the Premier League, tied on points with Manchester City and only two goals behind. In short, their performance has surpassed even the most optimistic expectations of Liverpool fans, and Richards believes the team can maintain this form for the rest of the season.
The Sky Sports and Match of the Day pundit remarked on The Rest Is Football podcast: “Look what they’ve got from the bench; they’ve just signed Federico Chiesa, who I think is outstanding. You’ve got Cody Gakpo who had a brilliant Euros who comes in and runs about. That’s all still to come.”
“I think they are serious now about challenging for the title. The reason I say that is because they seem more disciplined defensively, and they’ve got firepower up front. They’re challengers now.”
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for 24kbet, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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