OPINION
Liverpool’s sporting director Michael Edwards could play a blinder by ensuring the Reds sign Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook in the near future.
Football Insider reported on Wednesday that Liverpool were set to keep close tabs on the 22-year-old central midfielder after he returned to action, after being out since December, at the weekend to feature in Bournemouth’s 3-1 win over Everton.
The football outlet claim that Liverpool had Cook on their radar and that due to his attitude, energy as well as his pedigree he is regarded as being a potential long-term replacement for James Milner.
The current Reds midfielder turned 34-years-old in January and with his contract set to expire at the end of the current season, a long-term replacement needs to be lined up for him.
This is because even though Milner may end up signing a new deal, given his age then the Reds still need to plan for the future.
Milner is still frequently used by Jurgen Klopp, as he has featured six times this season and racked up 45 appearances in his 2018/19 campaign.
Cook is the ideal midfielder to target as not only is he just 22-years-old, but he already has a ton of top-flight experience.
The 22-year-old, who currently earns £35,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac), has appeared in the Premier League 49 times already, registering four assists in the process, and hasn’t been fazed by the demands of the league.
Cook’s 2018/19 campaign was drastically affected by injury, he managed to feature 15 times, but his talents are easy to see when you look at his 2017/18 campaign.
The 22-year-old, who was often deployed as a defensive midfielder, won 52% of his tackles, made 35 interceptions and registered 21 clearances to help the Cherries rack up clean sheets and he also played 107 accurate long balls in order to help turn defence into attack quickly. (Source: Premier League)
Given Cook can still improve considering his age, then it does seem like he’d be a suitable successor for Milner.
Liverpool are right to only keep tabs on him at this stage rather than a plot move as they need to see how quickly he gets back to his best following his knee injury, yet it does seem that if he can get back to his best than the Reds could play a blinder by snapping him up.
After all, Cook is likely to be cheaper than the likes of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, for example, as he is yet to be thrust into the spotlight too much as he hasn’t earned a senior cap for England thus far.
