Jamie Carragher praises ‘outstanding’ Tottenham transfer target

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has sung the praises of rumoured Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Jarrad Branthwaite.

Ange Postecoglou has already started to revamp his defensive options since his appointment as Tottenham head coach in June with the arrivals of Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin, while the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier have headed out of the door.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that Tottenham and Manchester United are leading the race for the Everton defender, while Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea have also made contact with the Merseysiders over the 21-year-old.

Branthwaite popped up with the equalising goal in Everton’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham earlier this month when he found the back of the net from close range in added time.

Jamie Carragher thinks Jarrad Branthwaite is a top defender

Branthwaite joined Everton from Carlisle in 2020 and was loaned out to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven last season while currently under contract at Goodison Park until the summer of 2027.

Carragher was asked about the talent of the Everton defender on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “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.

“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.”

SpursWeb Opinion

Branthwaite is a huge talent, especially given the high level he is already performing at in the Premier League at such a young age for a defender, who starts week in, week out.

With Postecoglou already having Cristian Romero, van de Ven and Dragusin, at his disposal in current Tottenham first-team squad with the latter having hardly kicked a ball since joining in January, it would be fair to say there are other positions which need strengthening ahead of another central defender.

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