As Everton prepare for a new era under David Moyes and their long-anticipated move to Bramley-Moore Dock, plans for a significant summer overhaul are already in motion. According to reports, Moyes and the Everton hierarchy have drawn up a transfer shortlist aimed at revitalising the squad, and notably, it reportedly includes two Liverpool players.
Transfers across Stanley Park are rare and often controversial. The names Nick Barmby and Abel Xavier still stir emotions among Evertonians, with their moves to Anfield leaving a lasting mark. In fact, only 29 players have made the switch between Merseyside’s giants in history, and they will be the first in 23 years.
So, who could be next to cross the divide?
The most high-profile name on Everton’s reported shortlist is Jarrell Quansah. The 22-year-old England international is said to be a top target to replace Jarrad Branthwaite, should Chelsea ramp up their interest in the coming transfer window. Reports suggest the London club is preparing a £50 million bid to lure Branthwaite to Stamford Bridge and Champions League football.
Quansah could be a smart and cost-effective replacement. Valued at around £30-40 million, his signing could leave Everton with additional funds to reinvest, particularly as the club is expected to hold out for a fee higher than Chelsea’s initial offer.
With Virgil van Dijk recently extending his contract at Liverpool, Quansah’s opportunities at centre-back, particularly on the left preferred centre-back side, may become increasingly limited.
The other Liverpool player linked is Ben Doak. The Scottish winger, returning from a loan spell at Middlesbrough, is yet to establish himself in Liverpool’s first team. However, his path may also become even more difficult should the club complete a move for Florian Wirtz, which would push Doak further down the pecking order.
Whether Everton would be willing to meet Liverpool’s £30 million valuation of the 19-year-old remains uncertain. The fee appears steep for a player yet to prove himself at Premier League level, with much of the value tied to his potential rather than established output.
Doak, who joined Liverpool from Celtic while still on a youth contract, registered seven assists during his loan spell — impressive numbers, though the stint was unfortunately cut short due to an injury that required surgery. Still, he fits the profile of what Everton are looking for: a dynamic winger to bolster their wide options.
Will they cross the divide?
For Jarrell Quansah, there may be emotional reasons to turn down a move to Everton and instead seek opportunities elsewhere in the Premier League. A lifelong Liverpool supporter, Quansah joined the club at the age of five and rose through its youth system, developing into the player he is today.
At just 22, he’s unlikely to risk damaging his relationship with the fanbase or the club by crossing Stanley Park. Instead, he may prefer to continue his development elsewhere, with the hope of one day returning to Anfield as a more experienced, first-choice centre-back.
As a Warrington native, staying on Merseyside could also appeal to Quansah as it offers the chance to remain close to friends and family. Everton would provide that opportunity, along with the promise of regular first-team football. Ultimately, it may come down to how Quansah feels about pulling on the blue shirt and what it would mean for him personally and professionally.
Of the two, Ben Doak appears the more realistic option — provided Everton can meet Liverpool’s valuation. With no emotional ties to the club, the primary hurdle lies in his personal ambition.
Having already left his boyhood team, Celtic, to chase first-team opportunities at Anfield, Doak may still hold out hope of breaking through under Arne Slot, showing either patience or reluctance to move on too soon.
That patience may be tested once he recognises the competition ahead of him, and the opportunity for regular first-team football at an established Premier League side like Everton could prove too tempting to ignore. Being in and around the starting XI week in, week out may outweigh the uncertainty of waiting for a breakthrough at Liverpool.
If Everton are serious about making these two Liverpool players top targets, they’ll need to do some convincing, first with the players, then perhaps with the fans. After all, would the faithful truly welcome a pair of Reds crossing the divide to wear blue this summer?