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Liverpool reportedly made an informal enquiry about the possibility of signing Jarrad Branthwaite, after the Toffees' previous owner used Branthwaite's value as a major selling point to prospective buyers of the club.
Everton was bought by the Friedkin Group in December last year, and the club's fortunes quickly turned around: Sean Dyche was sacked within a month of the ownership change, and the return of David Moyes sparked an upturn in form.
The club finished 13th in the Premier League after ending last season with three consecutive wins, and it currently sits sixth after four games, having collected seven points at the start of this campaign.
The opening of the Hill Dickinson Stadium has only added to the feel-good factor surrounding Everton, which was entirely absent a year or so ago.
The Daily Mail says that things were so desperate in 2024 that the club's prospective buyers were told that they would have a £70 million ($94 million) sellable asset in the form of Branthwaite were they to buy the club.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham are all said to have enquired about Branthwaite's availability, but Moyes made it clear to the Friedkin Group upon his return to Goodison Park that he wanted to keep hold of the young defender.
Moyes got his wish, and Branthwaite went on to sign a new contract at Everton in July, tying him to the club until 2030.
Unfortunately for Everton, Branthwaite has not appeared in a competitive game since penning his five-year contract, after suffering an injury in pre-season.
James Tarkowski has been partnered by Michael Keane during the opening few weeks of the campaign, but a return for Branthwaite is not too far away.
He could even return to the squad for Saturday's Merseyside derby, although Moyes was not giving any guarantees over the 23-year-old's fitness as he spoke at a press conference on Friday.
"Look, [Branthwaite and Vitaly Mykolenko, who has also been injured of late] are making progress and we'll see (for Saturday)," Moyes said. "We've got a couple of other knocks within the camp, but we'll see how they are.
"We have a squad of players and you hope that the players who you give the opportunities [when there are injuries] that they can hang on to the jersey. I thought Michael [Keane] has done great for us in the games he's played and long may that continue."
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