Prior to Cody Gakpo securing a transfer deal to Liverpool, Paul Merson oddly questioned how Jurgen Klopp would be able to bring top players to the club, as he compared the Merseyside giants to Tottenham Hotspur.
The former Arsenal midfielder thinks that Liverpool are in a situation like Spurs were under Mauricio Pochettino many moons ago, where their XI is as strong as anything, but then ‘how could I go out and buy him (a top player) because he’s not going to get a game’.
Well, first and foremost, the big difference between the Reds and those in north London is that Liverpool win trophies and they can attract the big stars, regardless.
That has just been proven with the capture of Gakpo, who moves from PSV after the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal were also showing interest in the forward.
Nonetheless, this is what Paul Merson had to say about Liverpool’s January transfer window prior to their deal for Gakpo, as he told Soccer Special on Sky Sports.
“It’s hard going into the market, you aren’t going to win the Premier League this season and you need to stay in the Champions League, that’s where the money is,” said Merson.
“It’s so hard. Arsenal have the same thing. You sort of get into that Tottenham situation, of Tottenham four years ago when they were right at the top of their game and they didn’t buy anybody because their first XI was unbelievable and you thought ‘how could I go out and buy him because he’s not going to get a game’
“I think they need to go out and buy. I don’t think they are a shoo-in for the top-four with this team, at the moment, and with the injuries.”
WHO WILL JOIN GAKPO?
Jude Bellingham is the dream signing for the Reds, and even though Borussia Dortmund are a selling club and they have let go of their top stars before, they surely won’t do any deals in January.
Therefore, where does Klopp look because he still needs to bulk up and refresh his midfield?
Yes, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are back fit, but they can’t be trusted, nor can the form and the energy levels of Liverpool’s midfield.
Whether it’s Morocco’s World Cup history-maker Sofyan Amrabat or Argentina’s World Cup-winning star, Enzo Fernandez, more competition is needed.
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