“He’s ready, at the top level” - Pat Nevin urges Barcelona to move for £70m-rated Manchester United target

Former Chelsea and Everton star Pat Nevin has urged Barcelona to make a move for £70m-rated Manchester United target Jarrad Branthwaite. The pundit believes that the Everton centre-back is good enough to represent the Catalan giants.

Jarrad Branthwaite's name is back in the rumor mill amid speculation surrounding his future at Goodison Park. According to TeamTalk, a host of clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid, have shown interest in the 22-year-old.

As per the story, the Red Devils have already submitted two bids for the player. The second offer was said to be worth £50 million. However, Everton turned down both offers as they insisted on recouping £70 million from his sale.

While the speculation rumbles on, Pat Nevin has advised Barcelona to make a move for the defender. According to him, the player has the prerequisites to thrive in the Catalan capital.

“Don’t worry Everton fans. If he stays which I hope he does for the rest of the season at least then great," the pundit said. "He’ll help Everton stay up which I’m confident they will,” Nevin said (via Manchester Evening News).

“But if he goes, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the biggest clubs in Europe are in there. He can play for Barcelona. If they came in, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. He’s fabulous on the ball, he’s growing quickly with confidence. He’s so far ahead of players that age that I would take him over every other centre-half his age in the world. He’s that good or at least he can become that good," he added.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have other pressing concerns. They need to sign a replacement for their goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen, who picked up a long-term injury last weekend. Moreover, the Catalan giants are well-stacked at the back with players like Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, Inigo Martinez, and Andreas Christensen competing for two spots.

What next for Barcelona?

After falling to a shocking 2-1 defeat to Monaco in their Champions League opener this season, Barcelona bounced back to winning ways in style as they made easy work of Villarreal in La Liga with an emphatic 5-1 victory on Sunday, September 22.

They will now go head-to-head with Getafe in La Liga action on Wednesday, September 25, at their temporary home stadium at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. They'll then take on Osasuna in the Spanish top on Saturday before switching back to the Champions League where they'll lock horns with Young Boys next week on Tuesday.

That said, Hansi Flick's men currently sit atop the Liga table with 18 points in six games - one point above second-placed Real Madrid, albeit with a game in hand. If they manage to win today, they will go four points clear of the Galacticos.