Who’s going to arrive in the summer?
Are these five midfielders realistic potential Steven Gerrard replacement targets…?
And if so, who would you prefer at Anfield in time for next season.
1) Ilkay Gundogan – Borussia Dortmund
The German midfielder burst onto the scene in 2011/12, and by 2013, he was rated as one of the most exciting young central midfielders in Europe. An injury ruined virtually his entire last campaign, and he’s struggled this term as a result – although that’s partly because his side are playing awfully. There are reports we’re interested, but we’d likely have to battle Man United for his signature.
2) Ross Barkley – Everton
This would be the most controversial transfer in Merseyside football history… Barkley shares Gerrard’s drive, power, locality and arguably even his talent – although he has not really achieved anything in football yet. He’s been consistently linked, although Roberto Martinez has laughed off the story in the past…
3) Alex Song – Barcelona (Currently on loan at West Ham)
It surprises us that we didn’t properly move for Song in the summer, when he was available on loan from Barca. He’s proved with West Him this term that he’s a very good Premier League midfielder, and he’ll be available cheaply in the summer with the Catalans happy to sell. Not a marquee replacement, perhaps, but a cost-effective one.
4) Morgan Schneiderlin – Southampton
The thought of signing another Southampton player for big cash would probably be bet my groans from many supporters; but Adam Lallana is slowly proving to be a good signing, and Schneiderlin ticks lots of boxes, too. He can tackle, is the right age, link defence and attack – and provide the team with the energy Gerrard used to. Granted, he provides nowhere near the genius of a prime Gerrard, but there aren’t many available who do.
5) Paul Pogba – Juventus
This is extremely unlikely to happen, but the young Frenchman is potentially the only name in world football who has the potential to develop into as effective a box-to-box midfielder as Gerrard. He’d cost upwards of £50m, and we’d likely have to battle a number of richer European clubs for his signature – but the Telegraph did name him in their own potential Gerrard replacement list today.
