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Man Utd ‘may be barred from Europe’ despite possible Liverpool boost as $76m Everton ace ‘eyed’

Liverpool rivals round-up: Manchester United could be hampered by UEFA rules next season. Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is a target for a host of clubs.

Liverpool will resume its quest for the Premier League title when domestic action resumes this weekend. The Reds sit second behind Arsenal on goal difference, but the league leaders face a trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Sunday.

 

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All three of the title contenders face 10 matches to determine who will finish the season top of the pile. But Liverpool could find itself back in pole position if it beats Brighton this weekend.

 

While Jürgen Klopp’s injury situation is improving, Arsenal and Man City do have concerns of their own. Gunners duo Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhães both withdrew from international duty while Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t called up by Belgium.

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And City boss Pep Guardiola will also be sweating over the fitness of captain Kyle Walker. The England defender was forced off early on in the defeat to Brazil with a hamstring problem and has returned to his club for treatment.

 

Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the Premier League and across the continent to see what’s going on at Liverpool’s rivals. That includes the possibility of Manchester United not playing in Europe next season.

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Man Utd could be barred from Europe?

UEFA could stop Manchester United from competing in European competitions next season after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent investment. United is currently sixth in the Premier League but could still make the top four, although a fifth English side could yet compete in the Champions League next term. Liverpool could ultimately boost United’s hopes of that happening, by winning the Europa League this season.

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Victory in the FA Cup would secure a place in the Europa League for United but there is a prospect that the club may not be allowed to compete at all. Ratcliffe’s INEOS group also owns Nice, who sits fifth in the French top division right now and is on course to qualify for Europe.

 

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UEFA rules state that teams under the same ownership cannot play in the same competition. If both did qualify for the same Champions League, the team who finishes higher in its respective league would be given the spot, reports The Mail.

 

Nice is currently in a higher league spot and would take precedence right now, with United then dropping into the Europa League. The same applies for that competition but if both teams qualified for the Conference League, and Nice finished higher in the table, United could be left with no European football.

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Liverpool.com says: There is a lot that needs to happen for United and Nice to finish in the same competition. The Red Devils will still have hopes of qualifying for the Champions League but face a tough task to overcome Aston Villa and Tottenham. A sixth-placed finish and failure to win the FA Cup could lead to a nightmare scenario though.

 

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Man City ‘monitors’ Everton ace

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is reportedly being watched by a host of clubs ahead of a potential summer move. The 21-year-old is in the England squad and could make his debut against Belgium on Tuesday night.

 

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Branthwaite has been a regular for Everton this season and his performances have attracted interest from Manchester United in recent weeks. The Mail claims that Real Madrid and Tottenham are also keeping tabs on him — while Liverpool has also been linked with a sensational swoop in the past (also via the Mail).

 

But any interested parties are likely to face competition from Manchester City, who believes Branthwaite’s age and homegrown status would make him a great asset. It is also claimed City feel he has similar attributes to John Stones, who signed from Everton in 2016.

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Everton will not want to sell the defender though. He signed a new contract back in October last year and the Toffees will demand more than $76m (£60m/€70m) to consider letting Branthwaite go.

 

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Branthwaite appears to have a top future and he has been a standout performer for Everton this season. A number of clubs are circling and he would fit the bill for Liverpool too, as a left-sided central defender. Selling him to the Reds will not be an option but the Toffees’ financial issues are well documented. City and United will be poised to pounce if he becomes available.

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