Speaking on his YouTube channel, The Overlap, Gary Neville has said that he wishes England had a player like reported Liverpool target, Pedri.
Neville was speaking about the Three Lions after the huge disappointment of their Euro 2020 final defeat, and he came out in defence of Gareth Southgate’s style of play.
The England boss has been criticised in some circles for playing a defensive style, but Neville believes that he’s been forced into playing in this way due to the personnel he has to choose from.
He says that England don’t have a midfielder who can run a game and act as a primary creator, claiming that he’d love to see the Three Lions produce a player like Pedri.
What’s been said?
Neville was speaking about England’s midfield options.
“I’m with Gareth’s style of play. Yeah, I wish we had a Jorginho, a Verratti, I wish we had a Pedri in the midfield who we could go and play more attacking players in there, but we don’t have those central midfield players, those genuine central midfielders. I know what you’re thinking, ‘why don’t we play Foden or Grealish there?’ But Foden plays outside left and right for Pep Guardiola at Man City, and Grealish plays outside left now mainly or more forward for Aston Villa,” Neville said.
One coming through
Neville says that England don’t have a midfielder in the ilk of Pedri, Veratti or Jorginho, but perhaps there’s one coming through in the shape of Jude Bellingham.
Interestingly, Liverpool have been linked with both Bellingham and Pedri this summer, and signing either player would make them a stronger side.
Pedri is undoubtedly a top talent, and if England had a player like him, perhaps we’d be talking about the current European champions rather than just runners-up.
Fingers crossed Bellingham can become that player in the near future.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
