‘Don’t want to upset anyone’: Liverpool icon teases that Jurgen Klopp should buy ‘real talent’ from Everton

Liverpool are eyeing up potential options to explore when the January transfer window rolls around and club icon John Aldridge has delivered a wild card shout.

The Reds are looking to improve on their defence and they are currently on the market for another No.6, as well as some extra depth across the back line. Following their victory in the Merseyside Derby, Aldridge highlighted “real talent” Jarrad Branthwaite as his player of the match, and believes Liverpool would benefit from bringing the 21-year-old to Anfield.

“I don’t want to upset any Evertonians by saying this, and whether Liverpool would buy from Everton is another matter as it rarely happens, but I certainly think he has got the ability to go on and become a leading figure and a starter for England,” the former striker wrote for the Liverpool Echo.

“The fact Jurgen Klopp even talked him up before the game in his pre-match press conference was interesting. A left-sided centre-back is something we were in the market for during the summer transfer window, which we didn’t end up signing in the end. If we were to make a move for Branthwaite, he would probably cost a significant amount due to the English premium that we so often see in the game.

“Coming to Liverpool would be hard for the lad, it takes a bit of doing to make that switch across Stanley Park. I don’t want to upset anyone, I will stress that again, but I think he has a really bright future.”

Branthwaite has really started to pave his way into the team this season, starting the last seven Premier League games. He is contracted with the Toffees until 2027 but as Aldridge highlighted, it’s almost an unspoken rule that no player makes the switch between the two Merseyside clubs.