Jamie Carragher raves about ‘special’ English centre-back amid Manchester United links

Jamie Carragher is a fan of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who is reportedly attracting attention from Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window.

The former Liverpool stalwart waxed lyrical about the highly rated 21-year-old on Monday Night Football.

Manchester United are said to be keen on Branthwaite – along with Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, as per Daily Mail – but that will come as no surprise because Erik ten Hag needs defensive reinforcements this season. We can also expect a few of the current defenders to leave and they will need to be replaced by better players that meet the manager’s demands.

Carragher believes Branthwaite is a very special defender and thinks that he could help Everton avoid the drop as they find themselves in another Premier League relegation scrap.

“I think he is [special]. And what is really special as well is the amount of centre-backs we have in the Premier League aged 21 or younger,” Carragher said during his analysis on Sky Sports.

“I remember being a young lad going in myself at Liverpool and it’s an unforgiven position, I had to go to full-back for the next three or four years and then go back to centre-back, so you can see the quality we have.

“Branthwaite has been outstanding, Murillo I think has been outstanding. But I think this lad has been pretty special and he’s a big part of why in my eyes Everton still have a great chance of staying up, him and his partnership with Tarkowski.”

Everton scored a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Crystal Palace on Monday night as Amadou Onana’s goal lifted the Merseyside club out of the relegation zone. Sean Dyche’s side move ahead of Luton Town in 17th place.

The Reds beat the Hatters 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on Sunday following a first-half brace from Rasmus Hojlund.

If United are serious about their interest in Branthwaite or other Everton players, it could be in our interest to see them face relegation this season. People are going to miss Goodison Park soon enough anyway.

Let us know in the comments section if you would like to see Branthwaite at United next season.

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