According to a report by The Athletic, Liverpool are set to hand Curtis Jones an increased role at Anfield next season.
The young midfielder has been given plenty of opportunities this season, and to be fair, he’s excelled throughout the campaign, earning all sorts of plaudits from fans and pundits.
It’s long been reported that Liverpool may be in the market for a new midfielder this summer, with names such as Renato Sanches and Florian Neuhaus linked, but if Jones is going to be given an increased role, you’d have to imagine that they won’t need a new midfielder.
Yes, Georginio Wijnaldum looks set to leave, and that will leave the Reds a man short, but between Jones, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner, it’s hard to argue that Liverpool are desperate for an extra body.
Jones is certainly good enough to fill the void left behind by Wijnaldum, and if it’s true that Liverpool want him to play a bigger part next term, he may act as the Dutchman’s replacement.
Liverpool are currently spoilt for choice in the middle of the park, and while Wijnaldum will be a big loss, the reality is that with the ongoing financial struggles brought upon by the pandemic, it won’t be as easy to go out and buy someone to fill the void left behind.
Luckily, Jones has shown this season that he’s got the ability to step up, and if the higher-ups at Anfield have faith in him to do just that, then Liverpool may have just sorted out their Wijnaldum replacement without spending a single penny.
Of course, whether or not The Athletic’s report is accurate remains to be seen, but if it is, then Liverpool may have already plugged the gap that is likely to be left behind by Wijnaldum.
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