OPINION
Challenging for both the Premier League and the Champions League, it is fair to say that Liverpool has reestablished themselves among the best that European has to offer.
After dropping to the fringes of the big boys both in England and across the continent, the Reds are back with a bang, the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk taking them back the heights that Liverpool fans will have fond memories of.
Of course, you only remain at the top of the tree by improving year on year and in football that means ensuring you have the best talent in world football at your disposal.
There is a reason Real Madrid won three consecutive Champions League titles – four in the last five seasons – and it is because they have had superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos dazzling at the Bernabeu.
Those are four players that any club would bend over backwards to get on board – which is why Paul Merson’s claims about Liverpool not wanting Bale will have the Anfield faithful in stitches.
Writing in his column for the Daily Star, he said: “Gareth Bale is good enough to play for any of the Premier League’s top six if he leaves Real Madrid – but how many would actually take him?
“Manchester City and Liverpool don’t need him and for them it would be a lot of money to invest in someone of his age and with his injury record. Most of the clubs below them would love to take the risk if they could afford the transfer fee and wages.
“Moving back to the Premier League would mean moving closer to home and that might appeal. I think he’s been a bit harshly treated in Madrid. You forget how good he is His problem is that he’s had to live in Ronaldo’s shadow for years and that is not easy.”
Now, do Liverpool really not need an improvement in attack? Perhaps not in their starting XI – which Bale would make a real case for at Anfield anyway – but on the bench he would be an immense upgrade on Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge.
Forget his age – he is still in the peak of his career and has proven that – and money is not a barrier when it means signing one of the world’s most talented players.
Liverpool would take Bale in a heartbeat if they could – Merson does not know what he is talking about.
