Manchester United and Liverpool may engage in a bidding war for Branthwaite.

Manchester United are long-time admirers of Jarrad Branthwaite, the Everton centre-back, but Liverpool too like the look of the 23 year-old left-footed centre-back who their Merseyside rivals won't let go for cheap.

Manchester United and bitter rivals Liverpool are on a collision course in the transfer market once more - over Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

The centre-back is a long-time target of the Old Trafford top brass, who tried to sign him from the blue half of Merseyside before. But when the Toffees stuck to their asking price, that deal went away.

However, United's interest in Branthwaite didn't and he remains their No.1 choice to replace Harry Maguire. The England defender turns 33 in March and is out of contract at the end of the season. The expectation is that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe won't be giving Maguire an extension to his current deal.

United boss Ruben Amorim is planning for life without Maguire next season, while he also has doubts about the long-term fitness of injury prone defender Lisandro Martinez.

That will see United move for Branthwaite again - but Liverpool are also very keen on the 23 year-old. It remains to be seen whether Branthwaite would be willing to make the move across Merseyside, but it hasn't stopped others in the past.

And there can be no doubt that right now, a move to Liverpool rather than United is likely to be more tempting.

However, Everton won't be easy to negotiate with, given Branthwaite has a deal until 2030 and he's one of their prized assets. Yet United may test the water with a £65m bid in the January transfer window, looking to steal an early march on the Premier League champions.

Branthwaite is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in English football.

So far he has won only the one England cap, but is regarded as an outside bet to be included in Thomas Tuchel's final squad for next summer's World Cup.