Despite already being able to call upon players like Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho and even Joe Allen (if you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel), the media is still insisting that The Reds need to find a long-term replacement for their out-going skipper, Steven Gerrard.
With Stevie G off to the US this summer, some feel it’s going to open up a power vacuum at the heart of this club. If none of the previously listed players are capable of stepping up, then what can Liverpool do?
Perhaps Brendan Rodgers will take to the transfer window to try and fix the problem. There’s certainly some good options out there.
One of these options is Hoffenheim’s star midfielder, Firmino. According to The Metro, Liverpool are ready to lodge an £18.6m bid for the Brazilian sensation. The source suggests that The Reds have sent scouts to watch him in action for the last 18 months and they’ve been impressed by what they’ve seen.
After all, Firmino does appear to be a natural goalscorer. Last season, he scored an incredible 22 goals in 37 games. This year he’s grabbed 8 goals from the centre-of-the-park. He’s also got plenty of creative flair. He’s highly effective in the final third. If Liverpool were to play Firmino and Henderson together, they’d carry plenty of threat moving forward.
Given his ever-rising profile, the Brazilian isn’t likely to stay at Hoffenheim for too much longer. At 23-years-old, he’s still developing but he’s not too far off his peak. With that in mind, now looks like a good time to move in.
£18.6m is a lot of money, but quality doesn’t come cheap. It’s becoming harder and harder to unearth hidden gems within the current footballing landscape. If Brendan Rodgers believes that he’s found a star, then it’s worth throwing some money at a deal.
Let’s just hope that Liverpool’s current boss sees things the same way.
What’s your take? Do Liverpool need to find a long term replacement for Steven Gerrard? Which options should they be looking at?
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