Clinton Morrison has questioned why Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool signed Cody Gakpo during the January transfer window and not a midfielder given their issues.
The former Crystal Palace striker spoke about England star Jude Bellingham being linked with a transfer move to Anfield and how they could do with a player of his ilk, as he told Sky Sports News (04/02/23 at 12:45 pm).
If the Reds were splashing the cash, left, right and centre, then by all means, sign Gakpo.
But it’s actually the opposite on Merseyside, especially with FSG looking to sell up and they are also not the type of owners that have gone crazy in the market like those at Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea over the years.
Gakpo was still a top purchase, and yes he is struggling but he will come good pretty soon, but that fee, which is around the £45 million mark (Sky Sports), could have at least brought in one midfield player last month.
Yet nothing of note come in and now Klopp is facing the reality of, not just missing out on Champions League football, but Europe altogether this term.
“I don’t know how they haven’t addressed those midfield issues,” said Morrison. “They have had a lot of injuries in there.
“You would have thought that they would have brought in a few younger players, especially in that midfield area. They have been linked to someone like Jude Bellingham. It’s probably a money situation. They have to wait until the summer to address that and see if they can get him.
“If they don’t make it into the top four, which looks unlikely this season, he will want to go to a team in the Champions League.
“You look at it, then they brought in Gakpo. Did they really need to bring him in? I think he’s a good young striker. But they have so many strikers at that top end when everyone is fit. They will be too top-heavy. Midfield is the area. Everyone is screaming at it. That’s where they needed strengthening.”
TRICKY SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW
On paper, Liverpool need a big refresh and big changes need to be made to the squad. But just how far will the club push?
On one hand, they might not even be in Europe, so trying to bring in players will prove to be even more difficult.
Then FSG aren’t the type to throw money at the top players for fun, so those restrictions might prove to be another stumbling block.
Either way, this could prove to be a defining six months and summer window for all associated with Liverpool and its long-term future.
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