Paul Merson has claimed that Liverpool should have signed a midfielder instead of Cody Gakpo.
Earlier this week, the Reds announced Gakpo as their first January signing.
Liverpool dropped £37 million on bringing in the Dutchman from PSV Eindhoven.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are also being linked to a number of midfielders, including Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez.
And Merson has argued that Gakpo is the wrong signing for Liverpool, suggesting that they should’ve signed a midfielder instead.
He told The Daily Star: “Liverpool are signing Cody Gakpo, but they should have signed some midfielders. Will he even play? When everyone is fit I think he’ll be fifth choice for them in the forward areas. Liverpool have gone top-heavy up front but their midfield is short. They have so many attacking forwards but I don’t think their midfield is good enough.”
Merson is right in saying that Klopp needs midfielders.
But by the same token, wingers are more important as of right now, for sure.
The German manager has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita fit again and although they aren’t brilliant midfield options, they are options nonetheless.
However, with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz sidelined, Liverpool had virtually no experienced option to play on the left-hand side of attack.
Will Gakpo be fifth choice when everybody is fit? Who knows.
In all likelyhood, probably not because this is a player with genuine world-class potential and someone who’ll get a lot better under Klopp.
But for January, wide positions were more important than midfield.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
