The Aston Villa star has risen quickly in the last 12 months but do the club really need him?
After the news of Gerrard’s departure from Liverpool over a week ago, much of the debate in the meantime has been about who – if anyone – can replace the Liverpool captain, with many believing it is an impossible task.
However, Liverpool’s transfer committee seemingly think they have found the answer, in the form of Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph, if reports in a number of national newspapers are to be believed over the past couple of days.
Having had perhaps his best season in a Villa shirt last year, Delph will no doubt be of interest to a number of parties but for a reported fee of £7.5 million, and at 25 years of age, it’s doubtful that Delph has the quality to be a direct replacement for Gerrard.
Also, considering the options available to Liverpool in the centre at present, it’s highly debatable what it is exactly that the midfielder would add to a squad that consists of Gerrard, Henderson, Can, Allen, Lucas and the likes of Rossiter and Williams having already been included in squads recently as well.
With 3 England caps to his name, the Aston Villa man is no doubt on the up but one good Premier League season does not make a player a suitable replacement for a legendary midfielder.
Regardless of whether the club consider him to be Gerrard’s replacement, there are areas of the team that need addressing much sooner and another central midfielder that is no improvement on what the club already has seem like a frivolous expense.
Do you believe Delph would add something to the current Liverpool squad, or is it another case of the ‘transfer committee’ moving for a player the club don’t need? Let us know in the comments.
as a Gerrard replacement? no. maybe a squad player. we need a midfielder with vision. one who can mix short and long passes. he should be older than 26 with experience of playing at the top. he shouldn’t come to Liverpool to learn but to teach. if Alonzo was available I would recommend him. Fabian is good. I’ve followed him since the Leeds days. but he just might turn out as another downing. good for the small stage.