Gabby Agbonlahor believes Jack Grealish could “definitely” play for Liverpool, telling talkSPORT (8 April, 8.40am) the Premier League champions lack that Philippe Coutinho-style presence in their midfield.
He has a point.
While Jurgen Klopp’s engine room isn’t short of energy or aggression, it’s fair to say Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner and even Thiago Alcantara can’t really be described as defence-splitting creators.
And, with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino struggling for form, the lack of a real cutting edge in the Liverpool midfield has been laid bare during a miserable 2021.
So would Grealish, arguably the Premier League’s most influential playmaker, fit in at Anfield?
“I think 100 per cent. I could definitely see him playing there,” Agbonlahor says of the Aston Villa captain, highlighting Liverpool’s struggles in the final third during this week’s 3-1 Champions League defeat in the Spanish capital.
“They’re missing Coutinho. You look at the Real Madrid game, they were missing Coutinho in that hole.”
Agbonlahor, however, is less convinced by suggestions Grealish would consider leaving his boyhood club for a Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur.
“Manchester City are spoiled for players similar to Jack so I don’t see that. Maybe a few years ago (he could have joined Tottenham) but not at the moment. Spurs next season will probably be fighting for mid-table.”
With the Telegraph reporting Grealish is now valued at an English-record fee of £100 million, the ink still drying on a new five-year deal, it seems very unlikely Liverpool could afford the Birmingham-born talisman anyway.
Can anyone, in this covid-afflicted market?
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