Mark Lawrenson has heaped praise on to Chelsea starlet Reece James following the defender’s successful loan spell with Wigan in the Championship and suggested Liverpool sign him.
The Liverpool legend has been watching the 19-year old right-back closely this season, and believes that Jurgen Klopp should be keeping an eye out.
Lawrenson suggested that James was capable of making the step up to the Premier League as the teenager had excelled in the Championship this season.
“Recruitment is the biggest thing for any club now and I don’t think Klopp will go mad in the transfer market this summer,” said Lawrenson to Star Sport.
“But I tell you who I’ve seen – and I don’t think they could easily get him – the right-back at Wigan, on loan from Chelsea, Reece James.
“In that league he makes it look so ridiculously easy. I think he could make the step up.”
OPINION
James has been on form this season in the Championship for Wigan, and certainly will have alerted some of the bigger Premier League clubs in the process. The 19-year old flyer has been a pivotal part of Wigan’s season this year, featuring in 45 Championship fixtures, scoring and assisting three goals respectively in the process. Chelsea will no doubt be looking to loan James out again next season, which will allow him to further develop and get more much-needed match experience under his belt. However, Lawrenson could be on the right track suggesting that Liverpool should keep tabs on the defender, and although he wouldn’t necessarily deserve a place in the Reds’ starting eleven, he’s definitely one for the future. Arguably, James is ready to make the step up to the Premier League, however if he signed for the Reds, he may not actually get too much game time. Currently, he is able to be loaned out to get more minutes in the season, but in the future, he will certainly be a defensive option for Klopp to look at.
