Andros Townsend believes John McGinn would be a perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool amid reports linking the £50 million Aston Villa midfielder with the Premier League giants, as he told talkSPORT (23 June, 9:00am).
How on earth do you go about replacing a man like Gini Wijnaldum? Rather you than us, Jurgen.
Since announcing the departure of a man who is currently leading the Golden Boot race at Euro 2020, Liverpool have been linked with a handful of midfielders with the terrier-like McGinn joining Yves Bissouma, Florian Neuhaus and co on a lengthy wish list.
Convincing Aston Villa to cash in – at a time when they are already batting away interest in captain fantastic Jack Grealish – will not be easy.
Especially when you consider that, according to The Athletic, the bidding for the Scotland international could start at £50 million.
Could John McGinn replace Gini Wijnaldum at Liverpool?
Furthermore, Klopp has already claimed, on more than one occasion, that Liverpool will not be in the market for mega-money signings as long as the pandemic remains in force, even if funds can be raised via the sales of Nat Phillips, Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi and more.
So while Townsend may believe that McGinn is tailor-made for Klopp’s refined and radio-friendly brand of heavy-metal football, Liverpool supporters should not hold their breath.
“Yes, I think the type of player McGinn is, (he) would be perfect for the way Klopp wants to play,” said the former England international, who will be a free agent when his Crystal Palace contract expires next week.
“He’s fast, strong, gets about the pitch, he’s defensively minded when needed.
“People will raise their eyebrows because he’s John McGinn from Scotland. But when you look at him, the way he plays, he would slot straight into that Liverpool team.
“Hed fit into the way the want to play with two holding midfielders. He’s got that discipline to just sit and allow the more attacking players to do their thing, to let the full-backs get high.
“I went up against John McGinn earlier in the season and I was amazed about how strong he was.”
Liverpool, of course, have a proud history of Scottish footballers.
Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness are almost god-like figures on Merseyside, while Andy Robertson has tasted Champions League and Premier League glory since joining from Hull City for a bargain £8 million.
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